The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, August 2, 1901, Page 12

12 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 1901. OIL MEN TALK RATES AND VALUES ; BEFORE RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS Southern Pacific Company Introduces a Number of Experts Who Tell of the Depreciation in Value of Coal and the Cheapness of Crude Petroleum as Result of Competition WIT. F HERRIN. COUNDEL. FoR SF Co CounsEL FoR- Ot = Frane W OHORT g IL men and raflroad officials filled the rooms of the State Board of Railroad day to discuss oil rates and val- The occasion was the hear- ing of the complaint filed with the board |ard, a well-known coal merchant of Oak- | n Le Blanc of Fresno, who claims | I:;nd. was called to the stand by Mr. Her- | rin. | evidence was highly interesting. He said by Jok the oil rates charged by the railroad us and that a reduc- ss o foster the growing indust Attorney Frank H. Short of Fresno, represerted the complainant and *. Herrin and J. N. Fouids repre- Southern Pacific Company. Sterry of Los Angeles and el Fe system. The morn- cupied in hearing the tschnitt, general of the Southern Pacific Com- and William Sproule, freight traffic ager of the corporation. They en- tened the commissioners on rates and ¢ adauced was strongly in afternoon Commissioner C. S. ble to attend by rea- ion and on reaching his resi- noon recess was compelled bed. Commissioners Edson ock continued to hear tes! rneys for both sides agree- What 0il Men Want. The ofl men of Kern County allege that | the uniform rate of 42 cents per barrel to San Francisco, plus switching charges, which brings it up to 46 cents per barrel, | is excessive and through Mr. appeal for a reduction of per barrel. When the Commissioners convened yes- terday morning Judge Short read the complaint, in which was stated that the producers thought a rate of 2 cents per rrel would be a reasonable sum for the railroad company to charge for the trans- portation of oil from the producing dis- tricts to this city. Mr. Kruttschnitt was sworn by Secre- tary Sesnon. He said he was familiar the shipment of ofl from the Kern County oil fields and said that to his knowledge 10,000 ofl cars had been sent He said the principal point of their stination was this city. On cross-exam- ination by Judge Short, the witness said Le_ Blanc he knew nothing about rates; that Mr. Sproule, head of the traffic department, was responsible for making them. William Sproule was the next witness. According to his recollection, 180,000 bar- rels of oil were moved in this State dur- ing 190. This was on an average of six barrels to a ton. He sald the present rate of 1 cent per gallon went into effect in 1898 When the development of ofl in Bakersfield began the people of that sec- tio! ked to be given the same rate en- the people of Coalinga. This was granted, he said, to secure the new bus ness and to_offset the water competition. Attorney Short examined Mr. Sproule at great length. e asked him the rate of charge on catile, fruit, merchandise and other commodities. He even interrogated Mr. Sproule on washouts, rainfall and the cost of the road, all of which the witness endeavored to answer. Freights on Stock and Oil. “How much does this oil cost to carry on a car?” asked Short. ““From $63 to $65 per car. On cr xamination Mr. Sproule sald that the rate on cattle was $i8 per car. He sald that the oil cars had to be shipped back emptr. Mr. Short then de- sired to know whether cattie cars were not also sent back empty and the witness replied in the negative. He said all Kinds of freight was shipped back in stock cars. He said fruit and perishable goods were not shipped in Lhis manner, but vegetables were. Attorney Short dryly remarked that the cars had to be well cleaned and the witness replied that it was cheaper to clean cars than to send them back empty. e ge value of a carload of cattle is in excess of the value of a carload of oil, is it not?” asked Le Blanc’s counsel. The witness answered thet a carload of Commissioners yester- | orton were present in | He had been ailing at the | | here. about 25 cents | | to meet it in competition, cattle would be worth $500, and_the car- ioad of oil is now worth here about §1 a barrel. “We get double the rate per ton per mile on cattle,”” Mr. Sproule said, “than we get on oil.” At the afternoon session John L. How- He testified as an expert, and his he had been engaged for the last twenty- ears in importing coal from Great n, Puget Sound and other points. “At what price per barrel may oil com- pete with coal in San Francisco?’ he was asked. “That requires a_qualify would depend on the Kir corsidered.” The witness then went into a discussion values. Ol at $1 per bar- make big busine: g answer. Tt f coal that is most valuable fields for coal. He thought oil was more economical than coal. He aid that anything that would tend to de- crease the importation of foreign coal, which comes to this port in wheat ships, would increase the burden of the farmer. | It simply He added t duces the amount of tonnage. at if the coal business was | ectirely absorbed by oil it would tend to ships that come | prominent | make less plentiful the He named a score of corporations who have substituted oil for coal in their plants. Among the promi- nent firms mentioned was the Union Iron Works, San Francisco Gas and Electric Ccmpany, Market-street Railway system and Western Sugar Refinery Company. He said the coal companies were finding it more and more difficult to get rid of their screenings by reason of the cheap- ness of oil for fuel. He was getting ready to enter the oil business, as his customers were leaving him. Cannot Compete With Oil. On cross-examination by Attorney Short, witness said steam coal was feel- ing the effects in prices by reason of the oil competition. *White Ash and Frank- Iin coal from the American side of Pugst Sound sold last summer at $6 a ton, and f‘ou can now buy all you want for $550 or ess. House coal was not affected by the oil competition. Coal cannot compete with oil at the present price. John Martin of this city proved to be a man of innumerable enterprises. He had the names of the various corporations he was interested in at his tongue’s end and he gave testimony so fast that the stenog- raphers were bewildered. He said he was engaged in woolen milling, manu- facturing gas, power transmission, saw- milling and one or two dozen other things. He said the high price of fuel led to the formation of a power company, and this | company reduced the cost of power for manufacturing companies and the cost to cities for the illumination of streets. “If oil fuel would cost 10 cents a barrel the power transmission must sell at a price ‘ In the last six years forty millions of dollars has been invested in el:ctrical power transmission. The further reduction of the price of | erude oil would not only do away with | the profit in this business but would ruin | the investment. Only a few of the firms engaged in pow- er transmission are making a profit, and a reduction of prices of oil would affect their ability to pay their fixed charges and preclude further investments. On cross-examination witness said he | used twenty-five to thirty barrels of ofl a month. A Los Angeles Investor. Edward Strasburg of Los Angeles was next called by the Southern Pacific Com- pany’s attorney. Mr. Strasburg said he | was interested in Kern County lands. He said that the gflce of oll per barrel was governed by the Bakersfield market, and that_the constant reduction of the price of oil has had a bad effect on the Los An- geles investors. He said Los Angeles was produci 100,000 barrels a month, which exceeds the consumption by 18,000 to 20,- 060 barrels 2 month. He said the oil was being stored and kept off the market. Mr. Strasburg admitted being in the ofl busi- ness at Los Angeles for the past seven years. He has shipped ofl from that place to this city at 51 cents per barrel. Prior had absorbed the [ EA.JUDGE N STERRY ;X + 3 PROMINENT FIGURES IN OIL RATE CASE BEFORE THE RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS. £ e to the discovery of oil at Bakersfleld, he shipped 2000 barrels a month at from 80 | cents to $1.10 per barrel. He thought that Los Angeles investors would not sell any more oll if the rates were reduced. He | said they do not send any more oil to this | city, as the Kern River field has control of “the ‘market. geles. figure until Kern came dowr a_ barrel. He was asked by Attorney Short what interest he had in Kern River oil property, and he surprised every one by saying that he was helpin}gI to spend $100,000 developing oil lands. e had personally drilled 15 per cent of the wells of 1.os Angeles, and has handled 50 to 60 per cent of the oil used in that city. He concluded his _testimony, by saying that if the Bakersfield people maintain their ridiculously low prices, it will only be a short time when every one will go out of business. Los Angeles Would Want Rate. A statement was made at this juncture by Mr. Herrin that if a reduced rate was given the residents of Bakersfield, the oil investors of Los Angeles would clamor for a rate. At the present time the Los An- geles oil men are paying 12-10 cents per gallon, which is equivalent to 50 4-10 cents per barrel. x Frank A. Garber, an oll man of Los Angeles, was the last witness of the day. He sald the price of ofl in Los Angeles varies from 7 to 80 cents per barrel. He said that he sold oil as cheaply as 20 cents a barrel five years ago, as they were pro- ducing more ofl then than there was mar- ket for it. He said that in Los Aneceles | ana Ventura counties they were producing | 20,000 to 30.000 barrels more than they had | use for. ' He sald Los Angeles was making special prices to keep the Kern River of] out of its market. 3 An_adjournment was taken until this morning at 10 o'clock. The Verb to Travel Means to move from place to place with a full, handy equipment of trunks, va- | lises, pocketbooks, traveling rolls, came- ras, etc. You can be properly fitted out and have your name lettered In gold on all fine leather goods, free, at Sanhorn & Vail's 741 Market street. . —_————————— More Teachers Resign. The Board of Bducation met yesterday Anna Dealey and Miss S. G. Burnell, teachers in the department. Leave of ab- sence was granted, to S. B. Robicke until July 22, 1902. A mew class, to be composed of third and fourth grade pupils, will be formed in the Lincoln Grammar School and Miss B. Millhone will be assigned to the po- sition. —_————— Flavored and seasoned in wood, rich and elegant with the best materials used by di tillers, it is no wonder that Jesse Moore is the leading whiskey in the world. . 3y He said at_the present | price of coal, crude oil at $1.75 per barrel | | will drive the commodity out of Los An- | He said oil was being sold at that | to 7 cents | said he | | and accepted the resignations of Miss:| ISSISSINTION OF E CHUNE Young Chinese Is Shot to Death at Midnight in Ross Alley. et PR Nine Shots Are Fired at Him, Seven of Which Strike the Victim. s A Gee Chung, a young Chinaman employed in a restaurant at 64 Commercial street, was shot and instantly killed this morning at 2:30 o'clock, while entering a gambling house at 9 Ross alley. A crowd of unknown Chinamen opened fire upon him from across the street, nine shots being fired in all, seven of them tak- ing effect. No cause is known for Lhe deed. The police think that the murder was due to a personal grudge, and do not at- tribute it to highbinders. No clew has been obtained as to the murderers. L o e e i e BLYTHE BLOCK CHANGES HINDS Deeds Covering Transfer Are Filed With the Recorder. Two deedu*verlng the transfer of the Blythe propéfty at the corner of Market and Brooks. streets were filed yesterday in the Recorder’s office. One 'of the in- struments shows that Mrs. Florence Blythe-Hinckley-Moore and her husband, A. A. Moore Jr., convey to the Bankers’ Investment Assoclation the property west of the line of the Mutual Bank property to the easterly line of Brooks street, hav- ing a frontage of 15272 feet on Market street and 1349 feet on Geary street, ag- gregating 21,187 square feet. In the second deed, A. A. Moore Sr. and wife convey to the same company the lot krown as the Sawyer lot, which was re- cently added to the Blythe holdings by purchase. The lot has a frontage of 20 feet on Geary street, with a depth of 79 feet and a three-foot alleyway on Brooks street. The stamps on the documents amount to 525, and show that the purchase price | $525, was $§1,050,000. The purchasers have an op- tion on the rest of the Blythe estate, but how long that option will run is not known. is portion includes all the property west of the ecast line of Brooks street to Grant avenue, except the prop- erty on the corner of Geary and Grant avenue. It kas a frontage of 188.75 feet on Market street, with a superficial area of 31,853 square feet. The property conveyed is free from &il incumbrances, the United States Mor:- gage and Trust Company, through its as- signees, having been paid vesterday. The balance of the mortgage of $1,000,000 rests on the property for which an option has been given. A deed was also filed covering the trans- fer of a lot on the northerly line of Geary street, distant 107 feet west of Kearny, 60x122.6 feet, by Daniel E. Easterbrook and Nettie Stone Easterbrook, his wife, both of Haywards, to Samuel W. Rosenstock for a consideration of $400,000. Forty-Fourth District Meeting. By far the most enthusiastic meeting of the primary campaign was that held last night at Washington-square Hall under the auspices of the Forty-fourth Assembly District Club of the Re- publican Primary League. Eloquent speakers addressed more than 500 voters, who testified by frequent cheers | and applause that they are in ac- cord with the determined effort that is being made by independent citizens to crush out every semblance of bossism. The meeting was called to_order by L. A. Rea, editor of the North End Review, who explained briefly the intention of the members of the club to lay the founda- tion for honest government at the com- ing_primary. Mr. Rea was followed by D. W. Burchard, who worked his hearers up to a high pitch of enthusiasm by his scathing denunciation of the ungrincipled individuals who would jeopardize the in- terests of the Republican party by using dishonest methods in politics.” Mr. Bur- chard advocated home rule in the admin- | istration of local affairs and urged con- | ;‘Prted effort to secure freedom from boss- sm. After A. J. Dannenbaum predicted that a body blow would be administered to the Kelly-Crimmins push on August 13 from which it would never recover A. Ruef told some plain truths about the present controversy, which were received with great applause. The following resolutions were then unanimously adopted: The Republicans of the Forty-fourth Assem- bly District, in mass meeting assembled, in- depeadent of all external control, voice their comstant and steadfast antagonism to bosses and boss rule. They commend the earnest and sincere ef- forts of the Republican Primary League for an honest primary and a free convention, and pledge the election of an untrammeled and independent delegation in the next municipal convention. We denounce the Interference of petty bosses from the interior in the municipal politics of this city and the alignment of every viclous element in political affairs against the purity of our governmental life and the safety of our institutions. We favor the declared and feasible policy of the Republican Primary League for home rule and a sound, broad gauge municipal admin- istration. Primary L:l_gue Club Meetings. Club No. 1, Thirty-second Assembly District, Republican Primary League, will meet this evening in Penny’'s Hall, corner of Eighteenth and Kentucky streets, with Dr. H. De Witt as president and H. Oellig as secretary. To-morrow evening Club No. 2, Repub- lican Primary League, Thirty-second A: sembly District, will meet in Mechanics' 444 Brannan street. Prominent speakers will address the meeting. T. C. Duff is president of the club. A meeting of the Thirty-first Assembly District Club_of the Republican Primary League (B. J. Flood, president; J. A, Madden, secretary) will be held to-night at 227 Ninth street. A meeting of the Thirty-seventh Assem- bly District Club of the Republican Pri- mary League will be held this evening at branch headquarters at 552 Hayes stree J. K. Jones, president: L. Bloom, secrs ary. Saturday evening a smoker and meet- | ing will be held at 444 Devisadero street, by the members of the Thirty-seventh Assembly District Club of the Republi- can Primary League. ——— e Wants to Try Mrs. Craven Again. Appeal has been taken to the Supreme Court by the Attorney General for another trial of Nettie Craven on the charge of .perjury. Mrs. Craven was in- dicted by the Grand Jury in 1900, but in the succeeding trial the case fell through on a technicality. It is alleged that Mrs. Craven's testimony as to her marriage with James Fair at Sausalito by G. W. Simpton in 1892 was utterly false. s e Notice: All bills against the Third Na- tlonal Schuetzen Bund should be present- ed for payment immediately. Aug. Jung- blut, treasurer, 10 Golden Gate avenue. * lacl e e Charged With Drunkenness. Timothy Cronin, who was appointed a policeman on January 4, 1900, must appear before the commission on a charge of in- toxication. He {s accused by Captain Wittman of reporting off duty in an in- toxicated condition on July 29, after being on strike duty. e Verus cures piles or $50 reward. All u; to-date druggists sell und guarantee it. * ALLIED BOSSES OF THE KELLY-GAGE TYPE DESCEND TO THE LOWEST TACTICS John D. Spreckels Promptly Denies the.Story of the Bosses That He Gave $50,000 or Any Other Sum to the Em- ployers’ Association-—-Duty of All Citizens to Register UNITE[; STATES SENATOR GEORGE C. PERKINS—“‘This is one of those cases where a fellow has all he can do to take care of himself.”” 3 LLIED bosses of the Kelly-Gage type, perceiving that the Repub- lican Primary League is daily growing stronger, are circulating a story that John D. Spreckels gave $50,000 to the Employers’ Association. By spreading such false rumor the dis- credited bosses hope to create a sentiment in certain classes against the Primary League. Mr. Spreckels has not given $50,000 or any other sum of money to the assocla- tion mentioned. His denial is concise and convincing. He asserts: “I have not given fifty thousand dollars, one dollar or any other sum of money to the Employers’ Assoclation. I have not been requested to contribute to the asso- ciation, and would not contributé if re- sted.” oo Perkins and Lynch. Our senior United States Senator, George C. Perkins, is really up against it. He is “between the devil and the deep sea.” He is hardly able to heip John C. Lynch hold the internal revenue collect- orship, as all of his political dexterity is required to hold the Senatorship for him- self. . According to present appearances Stephen Kelly of San Bernardino is justi- fled in putting his affairs in shape for a four years’ sojourn in San Francisco. It is surmised that Senator Perkins will eventually indorse his recommendation for the collectorship and then ask some leading Republican to go to the President and protest against the appointment. Forty-First District. One of the greatest victories ever won for good principles and clean politics was achieved by the Republicans of the Forty- first Assembly District last November. H. C. Dibble, the exponent of bossism, was defeated in one of the hottest campaigns ever waged in this city. The anti-boss Republicans of the district must be on the alert, however, to preserve the fruits of the victory won last fall. The allied bosses are active and boastful in the Forty-first, and_are threatening open war on the Central Republican Club, of which Horace Davis is president. In order that the citizens may fairly comprehend the jssue in the districts a few plain facts should be presented. The Central Refiubllcan Club, formerly known as the Horace Davis Club, is recognized in the district and elsewhere as a formidable and effective anti-boss organization. The club did not dissoive after the great victory won last Novem- ber, but on the contrary preserved its or- ganization and added new members to its Toll. It fairly represents the best citizen- ship and the soundest Republican senti- ment_in the district. When the Republi- can Primary League was established to awaken public interest in the cause of good government and to effectively or- anize all the eélements opposed to boss- , the guesuon came up as to the advis- ability of organizing a branch of the league in the Forty-first. It was the de- liberate judgment of the league that the Central Repubiican Club, Horace Davis president, represented the principles of good government which the league was created to foster and promote. It was de- cided, therefore, to keep ‘out of the Forty- nd give-the Central Club full swing to_fight the allied bosses. As the campa‘gn progressed the Kelly- Crimmins County committeemen, aided by several misguided men of the defunct Grand Hotel party, began to look for a chance to break in_and win half or a small fraction of the Forty-first delegation to the nominating convention. The bosses flocked to the old Dibble Club at Pixley | Hall and prepared a compromise scheme. It was presented to the Central Republ can Club -and rejected. Then a dete mined effort was made to force 8. C. Irv- ing and Nathan Frank on the list of dele- gates. The club, in its judgment, declined to place these two men on the ticket. Representatives of the Republican Pri- mary League said: ‘“We shall support the ticket placed in the field by the Central Republican Club. We do not ask for league representation on the ticket, as the members of the club fully represent the league anti-bose principles.” It seems that no personal objection was made to S. C. Irving and Nathan Franks, but they represented a faction known as the Grand Hotelers. The Central Club at the outset of the campaign resolved to steer clear of all factions and therefore Franks and Irving were objected to as the representatives of a faction. It is also common knowledge that this faction which they represent has allied itself with Kelly and Crimmins in two districts and stands ready to make any sort of alllance to gain a delegate here or there. A stormy conference of the club's executive commit- tee took place yesterday. To-night at Lodge Hall, 1605 Polk street, there will be a meeting of the main body of the club. An effort will be made to break down this ticket recommended by the committee: John C. Currler, Arthur S. Towne, Charles A. Murdock, Maurice Brandt, Frank C. Hat- man, A. E. Buckingham, Sanford Felgenbaum, H. O. Beatty, Lester G. Burnett, E. B. Cutter, E. J. Attridge, Alonzo Trueworthy, R. E. Campbell, J. E. Smith, William H. Hammer, Herbert D. Walters, ‘E. J. Pringle Jr., Irvin J. Wiel, R. G. Schroeder, James J. Devilin, James W. O'Rourke, F. C. Selfridge, J. J. Kane, Willilam Reston, Louis Bauer, Forbes, O. C. Pratt, James Maisch and H. R. Hopps. Twenty-Eighth District. The Republican Primary League Club, Twenty-eighth Assembly District, head- quarters 205 Third street, is putting up a noble fight against Boss Kelly and his gang. There is more than an even chance that the district will be redeemed from the disgrace of boss rule. Many of Kelly's former followers are leaving him. The boss is having trouble to get citizens to accept a place on his ticket. Thirty-Fourth® District. The regular Republican Club of the Thirty-fourth Assembly District, Martin Jones president, will meet at Mission Par- lor all, Seventeenth and Valencia streets, this evening. Nominations for delegates to the municipal convention will take place. —_———————— Boy Drowned in the Pajaro. GILROY, Aug. 1L—Frank Thomas, aged S — REGISTER AT ONCE. 0-DAY and to-morrow are the last days for registration. All citizens who were not registered for the Presidential election, or who, having registered, have since changed their residences, must reg- ister to-day or to-morrow or be deprived of their vote at the primary election. The primary election to be held August 13 is the most important of all elections. It will deter< mine the municipal government for the next two years. The result of this primary election will be either a government by the people or the intrenche ment of the corrupt bosses in municipal control. 18 years, son of Manuel Thom: er, was drowned to-day while bathing in the Pajaro River at Sargents Station. is supposed the young man had an attack of heart disease. thirty-five pounds, five-inch box, $6.50. your entire Credit and free delivery within 100 miles. We close at six, ex- cept on Saturday. 1. Brilliant FURNITURE C0,, 338-342 POUS,L&REET, pectacles AT ONE-THIRD LESS Than prevailing Glasses guarant Bring Your Broken Lenses