New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-10-01
PAOIFIO COAST TOPICS.
ICAL AND INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS.

POLITICAL AND INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS
THE LOGAN CAMPAIGN IN SAN FRANCisOo-OAhi
FnRNIA GRAPES AND WINE.
,rno,, Az CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBuSEl
SAN FRANCISCO Sept, 23-The newspapers here
for more than week have been filled with local
notifies Even the State campaign winch mas now
hon fairly bepun is dwarfed into insignihcance by
the fight for the spols OF municipal Office Ihere ls
little choice between the TWO parties as both are
badly handicapped by Bosses" but the prospect Is
that with the present Mayor Judge Blake at the
head of the Republican ticket, the Democrats Will
have to exert themselves to gain victory. Blake
IS an old. conservative lawyer whose integrity is 70
well known that it has gained for him the sobrquet
of" Old Honesty" lie is not in order with the polit
cians as he has defeated many of their little games
to plumber the city They stand in terror of his
vetoes, but in several instances the Board of Super
visors have come TO the aid of the Bosses" and
passed measures over the Mayors veto. A notable
case is that of the gas-contract The Supervisors
made contract for lighting the streets, at more
than twice the rates paid in New-York the contract
to run for two years. This was done in the face OF
a pledge made by item that no contract should
extend beyond one year. The proviso was also put
that the lamps should not be lighted on moon
light nights. AS the gas company is guided en-
trey by the almanac, the result is that the worthy
tax payer is charged tor street lights every night
In the year and yet stumbles rhomc through dark
rhoronghfares least one third of the time. This
is only one of the many outrages suffered by our
citizens which those Of no large Eastern city would
endure Everyone here seems so intent on money
making that nobody has either time or inclination
for any work in the public interest. Hence the
city bears shabby look. with its filthy il-pav ed
streets and its dilapldated public buildings
The grape-grOwers and wne-mdkers have been III
| convention in this city fol several days All the
| great vineyards IN the State are represented. and
| even the Democratic candidate for Governor puts
politics aside for the time and takes an active inter-
est in the discussions of the convention. The meet
ing of these from all quarters of tho State can
not fail to ma good effect upon industry which
promises soon to be among our chief sources OF
wealth. There is small probability that the present
high prices of grapes will continue for many sea-
sons as nearly every ranchman who had suitable
land has planted good part OF 1t in vines The
result will be an enormous increase in the grape
crop and consequent decline in prices. Still there
is little chance of tie business being overdone for
the demand for California VINE is increasing. The
phyllOxera, which has ruined 50 MANY OF the finest
vineyards of France, Is not unknown here, but its
ravages have been confined TO certain localities.
In these places the vine pest shows the most sim
and leaving its neighbour unharmed. A large bus-
ne has been done this year by many vine-growcrs
in shipping choice table grapes to the East The
varieties like the nuscat and tOay bear Transport
tatiOn very well and their great size ana beauty
render them attractive in competition with the
smaller Eastern varieties. met u man the otner
day who had just sold several hundred tons oi tue
variety known as flame tokay" at 800 ton. Tor
shipment TO the East. This grape grows rs large rs
the small, blue plum has beautiful ruddy tint, and
il is no uncommon thing for the bnnchcs TO weigh
eight or ten pounds. In the fruit maj ket these
grapes sell now for 60 cents box OF twenty-five
pounds although the retailers charge quarter OF a
dollar Tor three pounds
The chief trouble with the wIne-makers OF this
State seems to be that they do not thoroughly under
stand the best methods of dealing with the differ
ent varieties OF grapes. Many large growers several
wears brought out whole families OF wne-inak-
ers from France but these people have done little TO
improve California wine. They have been trained
IN certain me hods and it is found that they lack
ingenuity TO devise new system for the new con
ditions of grapes soil and climate which they ind
hero But American lnventlveness Is overcoming
these obstacles and already several varieties OF
light wines are produced here that are worthy of
the attention of conuoisseurs. The reputation vi
California wine. however, was badly damaged at
the Centennial Exhibition and many OF the spark
| ling wines now manufactured are vllanous bever-
ages little better III favor than poor cider.