The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, August 31, 1897, Page 12

12 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, NO PUBLIC MONEY SHOULD BE USED OR A NEW PARK Vigorous and Timely Expression of Taxpayers Against the Proposed Purchase of Land for a Zoological Garden at the Mission, TAXES ARE ALREADY TO00 HIGH. | Two Noble Parks, Golden Gate and the Presidio, Ample for the City. COURSE OF “THE CALL" APPROVED. | Sentiment Universal That No Addi- tional Burdens Should Be Placed on Real Estate. The fact is disclosed by numerous inter- views that the proposition to spend a large sum of public money to buy land | for a park at the Mission is not a vopular | oraesirable enter e. Taxpayers frankly | assert that the tracts of land offered are | not suitable and that the prices mentioned | are enormously high. For example, it is said thau one tract of land offered for $350,000 is not worth more than $10,000 | and is assessed for only $53,000. Ex-Mayor E. B. Pond: “There | is no call for the purchase of land for a | park at the Mission. The park facilities | supplied by the Golden Gate Park are ac- | cessible to the' people residing at the Mis- sion. 1t would be a great mistake for the | City to embark in the business of buying | more land for a park or to the public funds to establish a zoological garden. £ CALL'S eourse 1n opposing the schemie | erit public commendation.” M. Scott, president Union on Works: “One large| central park isa fine feature and small es throughout the City are attractive and useful. Lots of thiigs are more needed than a park at the Mission and a ‘zoo.' The people residing at the Mission | have ready access to Golden Gate Park. It belongs to them as much as it does 1o v others. The carfare from the Mis- on to the park is onl cents. All the money which the City can afford to spend extension at oresent should be the improvement of Goiden Gate HE CALL's position is correct ana | the taxpayvers will heartily apvrove the | course of tbe paper.” | B. McCreery, capitali “‘The tracts of lana offered are not su able and the prices asked are much above | tne value of the land. Again, a park at the Mission ie not needed. San Francisco has two noble parks already—the Golden | Gate Park and the Presidio. These two parks embrace over 2500 acres of land. No city in the United States is better equipped in this regard than San Francisco. The proposition to purchase more land is pre- mature. The policy of the municipal gov- ernment sbould be to reduce the taxes as far as possible. The burden imposed on real estate 1s already excessive. The| single tax theory reems to be coming into | practical effect judging from the way taxes are imposed on resl estate. I am | heartily giad that IHE CALL has spoken | out so clearly on this subject, and I am sure that 1ts course will be approved by the taxpayers of the City. The people at the Mission, as well as those residing in | other sections of the City, will applaud its course. Willia S general freigz ern Pacific Railroad Company: “All the money that the City can afford to spend on park improvement should be expended on Golden Gate Park. | The people residing at the Mission will get as much benefit from the expenditure as the residents of any other section of the City. In my judgment it is not good policy to purchase land for another park.” Arthur W. Moore, real es- tate dealer: "l doubt very muocu it the people at the Mission reaily desire that pablic money should be invested in | land for another park. The residents of that quarter of the City have as free access | to Goiden Gate Park asany other citizens. | A 5-cent fare is all that is charged from the Mission to Golden Gate Park. The proposition to buy esdditionai land for park purposes ought not to be enter- tained. THE CALL is right in resisting the | scheme.”” R. D. rry, acting secretary of the Chamber of Commerce: | *I'HE CALL 13 righi In the position it lakes with regard to tne creating of a park and | zoological garden in the Mission. We have one park which is a very aitractive | vlace, and the City is not wealithy enough 10 support anotner at the present time. 1f any money is to be spent forsuch a pur- vose let it be spent in making the Goiden Gate Park atill more attractive. At the present time tuis one big pleasure ground is sufficient, and it is in easy reach of those who desire fresh air and recreation, and it can be reached from all parts of the City for 5 cents. While I favor the zo- | ological feutures suggested in this move- | ment, still I do not think that the City | woula be justified in spending so large a sum as would be required to purchase the | land and then improve it. If the City has | any money to spend it should spend it for some of the things that would makea ma- terial improvement in the line of a wetter | sewerage system, better street pavements, ete. Iammot the luxuries of life, Im irv assistant agent Sou | NEW TO-DAY. ABY'S SKIN * Inall the world there is no other treatment 80 pure, so sweet, 5o safe, 80 speedy, for pre- serving, purifying,and beautifying the skin, scalp, and hair, and eradicating every hu- mor, a8 warm baths with CUTICURA S0AP, and gentle anointings with CUTICURA (oint~ ment), the great skin cure. tticura %P Is god throughout the worid. Porzzs vG & Cries. CoRP., Sole Props., Boston. m.w All About the'Skin, Scalp, and Hair," free. | large as our Golden Gate Park, and yet it | but I believe in looking after the necessa- ries first.” manager of mia State Board of 'rade: When I compare the strests of this City with those of the cities or the Old World and the East it makes me sick. ‘Ihe first work that the people of San Francisco should do is toget in a proper sewer system and put in decent streets. I alw. feel ashamed when visitors come hereand areobliged to tramp over cobbles and chuck holes, for 1 know that they sre sure to make comnparisons and to the dis- credit of this City. I am in favor of the things that make the City beautiful and attractive, but common-sense should guide us in this matter and give us the neces- saries fitst. It seems to znethat we shouid be satisfitd with our present park and not £o in for any more luxuries until we can afford todo so. As a fact, our present park is far from being egmpleted, and one of the attractions that could be added, if there is any money to* spare, would be a zoo. ..Lbere is nty of ground to spare £ a purpose. To my out there” far mind iy would'sbe folly to purc.ase more land arld placé & Lahvy tax upon the peo- ple for its @npr&ment when we have than can Scar Hewik ‘ Manu s cers’ sfociatiom: ‘‘We do not require anoj er park at present, and will not for mapy a long year. Why then; should the City be burdened with an ad/ ditional debt? The people can get all of the fresh air that they want by a cheap trip out to Golden Gate Park. The money of the people should spent for the im- provement of the streetsand the s@wers and a dozen other things,” The position of THE CaLL, to my mind, is perfectly cor- reci in this matter, and it is time for the | project to be dropped. Itisa luxury that cannot be afforded for a long time ] come.” ¥. W. Dohrmann. president of the Merchants® Association: *“I'lie aesire o aud a large zovlogical gar- den to the attractions of the City is, i my opinion, perfectly justifiable and to be recomm ended. Whether, as an ab- stract question, such a zoological garden should be located in the park or, as 1s very naiural for the Mission residents to ask, it is to be located in their neighborhood, Iam not prepared to say, as to decide that question would require more knowl- | edge of ail matters connected with such | an enterprise than I possess. But thatit would be unwise to purchase a large and | costly tract or thisor any other purpose ouat of the revenues of the present fi-cal vear and increase taxation for that pur-| pose seems perfectly clear in my mind. My suggestion wouid be thatconstant and tematic additions should be made to the animals now in the park, and that, in the meaniime, all reasons for locating permanently a zoo in the park or for lo- caling 1t elsewhere should be discussed and weighed and fully investigated. If then, in the course of a year or more, when the new charter is in_force and ma- chinery for doing so is available, it should be found that a site has to be acquired for this purpose, I favor bonding the City for the necessary costs.” Jerome A. Anderson, ysic and surgeon, 3783 ventieth street: 'l think the plan | ot purchasing a tract or land in the Sun- nyside district for the purpose of creating a'park and 200 a very foolish one, and sincerely nope it will neverbe carried out, asin my opinion Golden Gate Parkis in every way better adanted to this purpose. Centrai Park, New York, is not nearly as | contains & splendid collection of animals | and birds. Moreover the location of the | proposed new park is by far too exposed for animals accustomed to a tropical cli- mate, wiile in Golden Gate Park they would at least bave some shelter from the wind and fog. Whaile I think a number of animals woulua form a pieasing add. | tion to our present park I can see no use ! in forming a new one in soch a slimly populated district and one so difficult of access. If the old Jewish cemstery, which I understand is for sale, were to be purchased it would at least have the ad- vantages of being near enough the center of the City 10 enable ali to pay it a visit without consuming too much time in reaching it and ot affording a better shel- ter to the animals. If the money neces- sary to properly equip such a park were to ve utilized in tie opening up of small parks in the crowded districts of the City it would be expended to far better advan- tace to all concarned.” Chief of Police Lees: ‘I have only 10 say thau the views of THE CALL in its editorial this morning are correct. Detective Charles J. Cody :| “The park and zoo are not needeu. We bave all the zoo we want in Bernal Heights, where there are plenty of goats roaming around. Let the sewers be put in proper conditiun, the streets be graded and bituminized as they are in the West- ern Addition and save the people from having their household effects spoiied by the dust that is perpetually blowing through every open ccrner and nook in the house. I1don’t believe in taxing peo- ple for such a thing as a park and zoo, as Golden Gate Park is sufficient as recrea- tion grounds, ior the citizens and people in the Mission can get there for 5 cents.” Police Lieutenant Dan Han. mah: "'l have always been bitterly op- posed to the Mission park and zoo propo- sition, and tne articlein THE CALL is to the point. If we want a zoo there is plenty of room in Golden Gate Park with- out throwing away $300,000 for one in the Mission.” Dr. Johmn A. Miller, 1018 Valencia street: “l look on the park and_zoological provosition as a| scheme. The way I size the thing up is thatitis a rank and rotten real es.ate deal. It is a scheme to foist upon the City a lot of worthless land. Rather than buy the gum tree ranch it would be | better not 1o_buy land at all. The price | asked for it is extravaganily high. The | land is uneven, barren, rocky and not suitable for a park. We would not lose anything by waiting, and I agree with TrE CALr that it would not do any harm to wait. We need money for streets and improvements, and there are other things we need the money for in preference to a | park. E. J. McGiven, druggist, Seventeenth aund Guerrero streets: 1 do nu. see any immediate necessity for buyine land for a park. I} indorse what THE CALL says and tnink the money could be more advantageously spent for sewers and street improvements. We already have a large and beautiful park, and it would be no benefit to the residents of the Mission to buy land at some distance for a park.” H. H. Reid, attorney: “I feel sure that the position taken by THE CALLis all right. There should not be any expenditure for a park so long as %0 many other more urgent needs are un- supuplied by the public funds. It isa baa thing to spend the public funds for a local matter when otr cobbies are so bad and when there is a large field of industries EVERY HUMOR P Eimsierto Sertas | thav needs attention,” in | (1 8 Dr. E. R, Dille Indorses “The Call’s” Crusade. The crusade recently started by THE CALL against the inhuman practice prev- alent in Chinatown of holding young taken up in the puipits of this City. pastor of the Central M, E. Church, s CavLy in its efforts to root out this giant girls as s!aves in their vile dens has been Lasy Sunday evening the Rev. E. R. Dille, tarted his sermon by commending THE evil, and advised such of his parishioners as subscribed for other papers to request the management to take up the cause of these unfortunates. In addition Dr, Dille said: “‘This practice of the Chinese'merchants—the inhuman trafficking in flesh ana blood—is a disgrace to our whole civilization, and S8an Francisco itself in particu- lar. has—until these noble young women I cannot conceive how it is that this has been allowed to o on so long as it who are but seeking the amelioration of their less fortunate sisters from a condition worse than death have been arrested on the criminal charge of kidnaping. Iadmire the way they have submitted to this martyrdom, for martyrdom it really is, and am confident that the Chinese have not the slightest hope of winning date the missionaries.” their case, but are only seeking to intimi- LEND AN EAR T0 SOCIALISH Congregational Pastors Ap- plaud Ross Martin's Views, iPresbyterians ‘Will Investigate the Chinese Slave Ques- tion, Committee Appointed to Report Next Week on the Ohinatown Disgrace. The members of the Congregational Monday Club listened with eager interest yesterday morning to an address on so- cialim by Ross Martin, 8 member of the Socialistic Labor party. At its conclusion the pastors asked questions and' made a great deal of enthusiastic comment on the vrinciples of what Mr. Ross called “The System of the Future.” Theaddress pointed out to the preachers the connection between the churches and socialism. *Under the present system of capitalism,” said the speaker, ‘no suc- cessful business man can practice the golden rule. The better instincts of men are at war with their environments ana it is the duty of pastors to educate the peo- ple so that the new era may come gradu- ally. Eocialism will evolve out of capi- talism, as the present system evolved out of the teudal system. It is not by anarchy that the new era will come, but by a grad- ual evolution. “Ministers are to a great extent de- pendent on capital, and on that account they have looked at the question of social- ism in too conservative a way. It is the business of clergymen to destroy the pres- ent inGustrial system and to spread teach- ings which will make it possivle for man to follow the golden rule and yet not go to toe wall.” At the conclusion of the address the ministers demonstrated their interest by asking & number of questions. Several of them remarked that they had received much-needed enlizhtenmenton ihe subject and that they would henceforth look upon socialism from an entirely different stand- point. The Presbyterian Ministerial Associa- tion holds its weekly meetings at the Pyes- byterian Chiness Mission, 920 Sacramento street, and yesterday the members of the association expressed their sympathy with the rescue work by appointing Rev. James ‘Woodworth and Rev. R.J. Reynolds a commiitee to inquire into the Chinese slave question. The committee was instructed to report at the next meeting. Mr. Reynolds made a motion to express sympathy with the work the Methodists are doing in their efforts to suppress slavery, but the sense of the meeting was in favor of waiting till the committee had reported, so the motion was lost. The paper of the day was by Rev. F. S. Brush of Alameda on *“The Novel.” Chaplain Drahms of San Quentin read a paper at the Methodist preachers’ meet- ing on ‘‘Abnormal Man, His Identity and Origin.” ‘Ihis afternoon the opening sessio nwill be held in the First Congregational Church of the Woman’s Home Missionary Union of the Woman's Board of tne Pacific and the Young Ladies’ Branch, To-morrow the sessions will be continued in the Plymouth Congregational Church, on Post street. California Spiritualis Convention. The second annual convention of the Cal- fornia State Spiritualists’ Association will be held in Beottish Hatl, 105 Larkin street, September 3, 4 and 5. Business sessions at 10 A. M. and 2 P. M. Friday, and 10 A. M. Saturday. Important business of interest to every spiritualist will be presented for action before these gatherings. At 8 o’clock each evening there wiil be public meetings with addresses, spirit communications, music, ete. Lecturers and mediums will be present and participate in these exercises. All societies not chartered are invited to do so at once, that they may have a voting representa- tive at the convention. All delegates are requerted to report at Scottish Hall on Sep- tember 3, a1 9 e P DS iy Julian Pinto’s Assailant, Mrs. Maria Latham, charged with attempt- ing to murder Julian Pinto by shooting him on the 12th of March, will have her case set for trial in Judge Carroll Cook’s court Sep- tember 3. TINE GALLED O JOHN KELS0 To Be Arrested for Vio- lating the Eight-Hour Law. Action Taken by the Local United States District Attorney. It Is COlaimed That He Overworked Laborers on the New Post- office Site. The wrath of the labor unions of this City has at last falien on the head of John Kelso, whose methods of doing business on the new Postoffice building site, Beventh and Mission streets, have lately called forth so much comment, and he will be arrested and placed on trial for violating the National eight-hour law. Yesterday morning Harry M. Saunders, business agent of the Brotherhood of Car- penters and Joiners of America, and rep- resenting the San Francisco Labor Coun- cil and the Builcing Trades Council, ap- peared before United States Commissioner Heacock and swore to a complaint charg- ing Kelso with violating the law. On the advice of United States District Attorney Foote a warrant for his arrest was issued and placed in the hands of a United States deputy marshal to be served. Kelso will probably be taken into custody this morning. The complaint charges that on or about August 25 Kelso, a sub-contractor, whose duty it was to employ, direct and control laborers upon the work of the United States—the excavation of tue foundation of the Postoffice building at the corner of Seventh and Mission streets—unlawfully and wiltfully violated the provisions ot | the act of Congress, approved in 1892, by causing intentionally certain laborers, names unknown, to work upon said public work more than eight hours in one calen- dar day. The clause in the National eight-hour law which it is alleged has been violated by Kelso 1s as follows: “Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in Congress assembled, That the service and employment ot all laborers and mechanics who are now or may be here- after employed by the Government of the United states or of the District of Columbia, or by any contractor or sub-contractor, upon any of the public works of the United States, or of the said District of Columbia, is hereby limited and restricted to eignt hours in any one calendar day; and_it shall be unlawful for any officer of the United States Govern- ment oror the District of Columbia, or any such contiractor or sub-contractor, whose duty itshall be to employ, airect or control the services of such laborers or mechanics, to Tequire such laborers or mechanics to work more than eight hours on any one calen- dar day, cxcept in cas¢8 of extraordinary emergency. A violation of the law is a misdemeanor according to the statute and is punishable by a fine not to exceea $1000 or by im- prisonment for not more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Mr. Saunders says he has many witnesses to establish his claim that the contractor has violated the law, and as the work on the Postoffice site can in no way come under the head of *“‘emergency work,” he feels sure he will secure a conviction. A Landlady’s Troubles. Mrs. Mary Presho lives at 168 Park street and owns & house on Ritch street which was occupied by Jonn D. Flaherty and family. She alleges that Flaherty owes her $9 back rent and Sunday night whiie going past the house she saw the Flah :rtys loading their jurniture into a wagon. She waited till they drove away and to prevent them from removing the re- muinder of their effects she put a padlock on the front door. Flaherty returned with the wagon and broke off the pedlock, removing Aall nis effects. Yesterday she secured a war- rant for his arrest for malicious mischief in breaking the padlock. e ————————— Battered the Ex-Cook. L. Gaston, formerly chief cook at the Bald- win Hotel, swore to & complaint in Judge Low’s court yesterdny charging Prosper P. Reiter, steward ot the hotel, with battery. Gaston said that Reiter saw him talking to Colouel Kowel-ky and Manager Lake Sunday nignt, and possibly thinking he was saying things about the steward, which he wasnot, Reiter followed him outside the hotel ana Jstruck him. 1897. HAKING WAR Dentist Atwood Throws the Gauntlet, Which Is Quickly Taken Up. He Refused to Serve a Lady Who Was Wearing Bicycle Costume, Wherefore Mrs. Kirk Moves to Carry a Delicate Question of Ethics Into Court. Mrs. Annie Kirk has at least two suits that suddenly assume an interest likely to become International. One consists partly of bloomers, tie other is an action for $250 damages bronght by her against W. A. Atwood. The two suits are closely connected. But for the first the second would never have appeared to gladden the heart of man. From any thrill of pleasur- able emotion, however, the Atwood heart is, of course, excepted. W. 8. Kirk aiso figures as a vlaintiff, but as he does not wear bloomers and is a mere husband his place 13 somewhere outside this simple tale. Atwood is a dentist. He professionally tames the raging molar, exorcises the pang that prances deep in the cavities of the jaw, asks with tender concern after jabbing a sore nerve “Did it hurt?’ and in all ways 8o far as documents set forth, deports himself as dentists have ever done, and ever will do, world without end. It befell that Mrs. Kirk needed some work done, whether a bridge, a crown, a vlate or a_simple filling does not appear, and wouldn’t make any difference there if itdid. At any rate she went to Dr. At- woud, and iie, looking with horror- stricken gaze upon her, pointedly refused to attend to her, giving as a reason that she was wearing a bicycle costume, to wit, bloomers. Possibly the thought occurred to him that the lady was wearing this costume not only “to wit” but to woo. He could not be induced to see the error of his way as:the same was plain to Mrs. Kirk, and she left his office indignant, the degree of her indignation being later meas- ured in set legal terms and the mention of a:lnmounz of cash that would be accept- able. The complaint 1s long, and reeks with the verblage that means nothin: but weariness to the flesh, but it avers plainly enough that at the “said time and place she was attired in a bicycle costume, and said defendant then and there gave asa pretended reason (for refusing his ser- vices), in the presence of strangers, in spiteful, contemptuous and insuiting manner and words addressed to plaintiff, * % % nis said refusal that he would render her no service agreed on because she was so attired.” Dr. Atwood was asked about this. The affair seemed to be distasteful to him, and in the nature of a surprise. Heis a com- paratively young man, and not only has the aspect of one able to care for himself, but 1s happy in the protection of Mrs. At- wood, who stays at the office, and, as the doctor says, is at least a listener at every interview to which a lady patron is a party. Nevertheless, the gentleman says it was self-protection that caused him to with- | hold from Mrs, Kirk the ministration sought. He hasa large family practice, including maids and matrons. What if one of these had come in, somewhat dis- traught from toothache, anyhow, and with the uypercritical eye of a sufferer had spied a bicycle female in his chair? ‘Why, that person wonld have fled. No: even the presence of Mrs. Atwood could have stayed the flight. At least such is the doctor’'s idea. He did not explain what there is so fearsome about a pair of bloomers, but on the point that in the Atwood operating- chair they have no vlace his mind was c.ear. He denied, alwo, that he had used the sort of language ascribed to him by Mrs. Kirk, but sad he had sought to make another appoint- ment with ber, affording her ample time to assume raiment befitting the solemnity of the dental ordeal. Instead of listening to his overtures she, according to him, Hounced out with a show of mot being pleased. He says further that no strangers were present, that nobody but his wife was there. So when the great suit of Kirk vs. Atwood adjudication of matters of fact as well as of law and the more delicate question of ethies, but upon the ethics will center the common interest. It is to be determined whether a woman with a defective tooth has a right to wear bloomers, and whether a dentist, duly and righteously armored by the presence ot his wife, enforced by forceps and weapons equally deadly, is justifiable in shying at bloomers as a country colt shies at first intimacy with a cable-car. OLYMPIANS AT SEA. The Nominating Committee Muy Dis- H band and Surrender Its Mission. The determination of Herman Oelrichs to not run for the presidency of tne Olympic Club has so far upset the plans of the reform-seeking members of that organization that a grave doubt bas now sprung into existence as to whether or not the election of officers can take place on schedule time. The members of the nominating com- mittee were to have had a meeting last night. but this was abandoned and a pri- vate conference was held instead, Some of the committeemen expressed themselves as being in favor of abandon- ing all hope of preparing a ticket, but others argned that there was still hope of fulfilling their mission, and it was finaily reed to hold another conference this afternoon. An effort will then be made 1o agree upon some suitable candidate for the presidency, and if this meets with failure.the committee will, in all proba- bility, decide to disband and ask the club to select u new body of ticket-provosers. There will be an athletic exhibition at the clubrooms this evening, and it is just possible that advantage will be taken of the presence of the members to call up the entire election matter and ask for a dezision. —————— LABOR-DAY OELEBRATION. Programme Arranged by Council and Building Trades. { The joint Labor-day committee of the San Hrancisco Labor Council and the Building Trades Council met last nightat Trades Hall and arranged the foilowing programme for the Labor-day celebration to be held at Metropolitan Temple, Mon- day evening, September 6: Overture, ‘Morning, Noon and Night""......Suppe Bloom’s Orchestra. .3, Hill J. A. Mcauliffe ‘Labor's Struggie A. Furuseth Recitation, “To-morrow a iss Kose Cullen Misy Freda uallick. Selections .Knickerbocker Male Quartet Address, 1o Dr. J. K. Scott Comic song (selected).. i Hynes Soprano 8910 . Miss Hose Clemence Add ‘Eight-hour 'Day and_Triumph £ Labor” Rev. W. P Bliss Marca, * George Kosey Bloom's Orciisira. The entertainment will be free and the trade unionists have extended a cordial welcome to the public, TR ON BLODNERS comes to trial there will have to be some | FROITS [N DENAND Growers Happy at the Rise in the Price of This Commodity. State of the Market Due to the Failure of the Eastern Crop. Fruit-Growers Holding Back for Higher Prices—Our Prunes in Great Demand. The growers of prunes, raisins and other dried fruits were extremely happy yester- day over the state of the market, prices offered for those commodities being much higher than they have received for many years. The market showed that prunes had gone from 314 to 315 to 34 to 33 cents for the four sizes There are no prunes on the market, either old or new, and the buyers are scrambling for them. Raisins ad- vanced to 3! cents for two crown, 4}4 cents for three crown, 5!£ cents for four crown and $115for London layers. The prune cropin the Santa Clara Valley is drying up much lighter than has been ex- pected and this also adds to the firmness of tue market. The immense shortage of the apple crop in the East is . partially the cause of their good fortune, as the volume of the apple crop rules the whole dried fruit market of the United States. If the Eastern apple crop is short California dried fruits do well, and should the Eastern apple crop be large it tends to produce light prices for the California dried fruit. This year the Eastern people were only able to real- ize but half a crop. Another factor that tends to give the growers a fine dried- fruit market this year is the constant demand in Europe for Cal- ifornig dried fruits. A large amount of prunes bave been exported to Europe this year, and there is now a constant call for more. A still stronger reason for the present state of the market is the better times throughout the United States due to the new tariff, which increases the con- sumptive power of the masses, A prominent and heavy dealer in dried fruits in this City was seen yesterday anc made the following interesting statement of the dried-fruit market. He said: “The prune market opened early in the season on a basis of 214 ana 23c for the four sizes for outside siock, that is fruits other than those of the Santa Clara Val- ley Santa Clara Valley stock opened at3 cents. At least that was the price made by the exchange for a considerable quan- tity sold by them. Under a heavy export and bomedemand prices have advanced until Santa Clara stock is firm on a basis of 34 for the four sizes, with half a cent per pound premium paid for the large sizes—forty to fiftys and over. Outside prunes are firm from 3 to 3!4c, and even at these comparatively high prices stock is more difficult to obtain than it was more eatly in the season at the opening figures. The crop is conceded to be con- siderably lnrger than last year. The total output of the coast, incinding Oregon and Washington, is estimated to be from 80,000,000 to 100,000,000 pounds. Bui thLe season opens with a larger proporticn of the crop sold in advance than any pre- vious year. “Raisins are practically in the same po- sition as prunes, as far as the opening and present prices are concerned, thouga a smaller proportion of the crop than ot prunes has been sold. The crop will be about the same as that of a year ago, and growers will doubtless realize more net, from the fact that few of them have con- tracted their crop in advance, while last year a large proportion of them sold be- fore the advancs took place. “The peach market is in an excellent condition just at present, as the canneries are paying extreme prices for the green product, and until quite recenily ship- ments East have netted the growers fancy prices. The dried product will have to bring a high figure in order to be equally profiable, and the way buyers are scour- ing the country and taking stock offered would indicate that most of them have faith in the future of this article. Prices to-day are fully 50 per cent higher than those of last year, whilein many instances double, especially for the very fancy grades. The output undoubtedly will be less than that of 1896, though preseut prices are causing growers to dry every peach 1n the country, and there will be none wasted, as was the case last year. “‘Pears are conceded a very light crop, and, owing to high prices at which they have sold at all Eastern markets, a very small proportion of the crop has been dried this year. As a conseaquence prices are much higher, and nearly all the stock to be dried has been sol.. ““‘Apricots were in larger supply than for several years past, the output of the driea product being three to four times as large as that of 1895 or 1896. Prices nave ruled fairly steady irom tue opening of the sea- son, thougn they are at present a littie tirmer owing to the advance that has oc- curred in otuer lines. The trade evidently considers avpricots good property at the present low prices. There are a great many still left in the State. “The crop of almonds will be a fairly good one—considerably larger than last year, though not a full crop by any means. Prices are about the same as tho-e ruling about a year ago, though some of the variety of pap:rshells are held at about half a cent per pound above last year’s figures, the growers evidently believ- ing that they should get the benefit of the increased tariff on these atiicles. “The walnut crop will be about two- thirds of last year’s crop, ard it is be- lieved thai the prices will rule about a cent per pound higher. Asis usually the case with a light crop, the quality prom- ises to be ex ra fine, and no tear 1e enter- tained but that the crop will move as soon as rea .y for market. “Taken as a whole the prospects of the fruit and nuat growers of California is brighter than for severa! years past, as with short crops East there will be no trouble in placing our entire output at re- munerative prices to the grower.”’ THRASHED FOUR MEN. Peter McGrath Keeps Up His Reputa- . tion as » Scrapper. Peter McGrath, a young man well known on the Mission road as a *'scrapper,’’ ran foul of turee re<idents in the lucality last night, Jacob Fisner, T. J. McGowan and R. H. Taber. He attemvted to thrash them individvally and collectively. Policeman M. J. Griffin went to their as- sistance and McGrath tackled him. He was finally overpowered and taken to the Seventeenth-street station, where four charges of battery were booked against him. About two years ago McGrath threw a rock ai Policeman Hawes, which struck nim on the head and nearly killed him. He was arrested, but by some means or other was acquitted. L e g e The Alaska Fur Seal. It is announced that David Starr Jordan, president of Stanford University, is to lecture fore the men’s club of the cathedral mis- ion of the Good Samaritan on Wednesday vening, September 15, on “Tne Latest Ou- servations of the Fur Seal.” 1 with the red seals MRS, HOFFHAN CROSSELANINED Questioned in Regard to a Letter She Wrote Her Husband- Miss Cohn Says She Saw Hoff- man Outside His Store at 6:26, Another Witness Testifies That Figel Started for His Boat Before That Time. Solomen Lewek, over whosa testimony there was so much argument iast week, was placed on the stand again yesterday by Figel’s attorneys. He was asked to identify the letter found on Hoffman’s body as one shown him on May 27. He said he could not identify it as the one shown him, but that the contents were similar. Identification of the letter in this manner was objected to by the prose- cution and the objection was sustained. General Barnes next called Mrs. Hoff- man for cross-examination. He stated that he had waived his right to cross- examine her at the time she had testified for the prosecution through feelings of delicacy, but he now asked permission to examine her, She was shown a letter found on her husband’s body, and said that she had written it about the 1st of May. This was the letter she had sent Mr. Hoffman in reply to his request that she give him an order on the Postoffice authorities for her mail. In the letter she said she would grant this request if he woald give her $60. . An objection to this testimony as not being proper cross-examination was sus- tained and the witness was excused by General Barnes, who remarked to Mrs. Hoffman that he had his opinion of the Judge for not allowing her to answer his questions. Dr. D. D. Lustig testified that he had performed an experiment with human bair and found that it would be burned by the discharge of a pistol at about three inches. He thought it possible that Hoff- man could have fired both the shots that caused his death. : On cross-examination he stated thatin forming this opinion he had not taken into consideration all of the circumstances of thedeath of Mr. Hoffman. A cousin of Hoffman, Mrs. Lewek, identified a letter she had written to him in regard to his trouble with his wife, but her testimony was ruled out. L. L. Levings, a reporter, said he had seen the pistol which killed Hoffman a few days after bis death and that there was blood smeared on the right side of it. Officer Colen, who testiied for the prosecution, was called by the defense. He said that the pistol he showed Fred Bishop, a reporter for THE CALL, on the night of June 1 was his own, and not the one with which Hoffman was killed. Ha said: “Tuoe reporiers wanted to see the pistol, and I showed them mine to get rid of them. Itold them that it was the one that shot Hoffman and there was blood onit.”” On cross-examination, Colen said he'had been sent to the ferries that night to apprehend Figel but that the order had been countermanded. Harry H. Unger, a salesman for Heyne- mann & Co., testified that at 6:15 o’clock he saw Officer Ferrenbach in front cf the Heynemann siore on Battery street. Lafer, in company with Miss Cohn and his brother, the witness walked to the corner of Bush and Ba.tery streets, where Miss Cohn went west on Bush street and he with his brother crossed to the letter- box 1n front of Hoffman, Rothchild & Co.’s and mailed some letters. This was about 6:25 o’clock. Miss Lillian Cohn was next called, and testified that after she left the Uuger brothers at Bush and Battery she turned to see if they were mailing the letters and saw Mr. Hoffman on Bush street, about ten feet from the corner of his store. He was talking with another gentleman, whom_the witness could not describe, but she did not think it was Figel. In the cross-examination, which lasied about three-quarters of an hour and was very rigid, Miss Cohn was thoroughly self- vossessed and gave her answers to tne questions in a clear, unhesitating manner. General Barnes said that she was tne best witness he had ever seen on the stand. P. J. Weniger, one of the proprietors of the Cabin saioon, on Market street, said that Figel came into his place of business about 6 o’cleck on tle evening of June 1 and left a grip and a package of books. About 6:23 he retarned and took his pack- On cross-examination the wit- that Figel seemed to be in some- thing of a hurry, as if he was going to catch a boat. ¥or Kobbing & Bugler. FEd Johnston was yesterday held to answer before the Superior Court by Judge Joachim« sen in $500 bonds, on the charge of grand larceny. Johnstou, S. Briagewood and Wil- liam Smith were arrested for stealing $50 from John Nune, a bugler in the United States navy, while he was asleep in a saioon on Kearny and Sacramento streets. The charge so far as it related to Bridgewood aud Smith was dismissed. FOOD COFFEE. BRAIN WORKERS. Should Have Propesr Food to Sus- tain the Losses. It is a well-established fact that active mental effort drains the nerve centers of the Phosphates. Tnis fact should guide tte brainy men and women of to-daz in the selection of proper food and drink to rebuild the losses anc prevent Paresis and Nervous Prostration in any of its many forras. In wheat the Phosphates exist, with the gluten, up next to the outer i shell. Nearly 70 per cent of Fostum | Cereal Food Coffee consists of this part of wheat, which practicaily accounts for the strong tonic effect and pronounced im- provement in ener 'y within a very few days after coffee is abandoned and Postum used regular.y. There is no medicine of any character in Postum. The highest practice of the healing art to-da¥ is not so much in crutching patients along with medicines that will help them. tempo- rarily as it is to induce them to abandon the use of articles of food or drink that mnay act in individual cases as a definite poison (as coffee does more iurgely than is realized). When this much is ace m- plished, food of the right kind is the oniv thing that can build back the lost gray matiter from the nerve and brain celis. Postum Cereal Food Coffee furnishes the needed elements 1n a condensed form as a most palatable breakfast and after-dinner coffee, tree entirely from the drug effect of common coffee. It is truly said of Postum “It makes red blood.”” The man who stays on earth dur- ing this age of rush and brain tax is the one who keeps his machinery running smooth!ly and feeds it on proper { repair the waste. . qedito Many imitations of Posium are market. There 1s but one only n:lnzi:'lh:l “1t Makes Red Blood."