New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-24
PACIFIC COAST TOPICS.
BUSINESS. POLITICS AND SOCIETY.


summer with the same whirling clouds OF dust
cold winds and heavy fogs. City people generally
try ~ escare from these infections by short ruu
into the country as san Francisco has many
charming suburban towns, reached by a short ride
nv rail or boat, The san MaIeo and Santa Clara
valleys are the favorite resorts, and here one may
see villas = san Franciscos millionares which
rival in beauty and picturesqueneSs the many
charming country-seats along the Hudson Ger
tainly hero are the advantages Of more tropical
climate and greater luxurilnce of vegetation
Nowhere ia the country do the tOse, the inchsla,
the jesssmne and the purple cleinatis gro" WIN
such vigor or blossom so prodigally. All these
with many semi-trOpcal plants from Mexico mat
send M flowers like shoots OF vivid flame need only
irrigation daring the summer to make them con-
slant dolignt to the eye Even in this city one sees
more flowers in a few blocks of the best residence
quarter than IN miles of New-York's fashionable
avenues although cultivation of plants is hampered
by the ferco winds which sweep from he west.
In the county, where these winds are tempered by
distance from the sea. flowers find coneenia
home There one may speak, as the early tngllsh
poets did of the rosetree for the bush frequently
reaches the size of a mans wrist and heIght OF
eight OF ten feet. The fuchsia also may lay claim
to the name OF tree for its sturdy stalk hears load
of rich purple blossoms that woud make an Eastern
horticultural green with en- ". Old Spanish Mon
terey dull and ugly 1t Is, is worth visit solely
for the roses that Chamber over its adobe walls anu
make its runs lovely in their decay.
But neither summer nor fall is a good time for sec
ing California. although the Eastern visitor does
not seem to appreciate the fact. Every summer
larger numbers cross the prares and spend a week
or two on this coast. They generally return with
an unfavorahle opinion OF the climate and a holy
horror of dust and wind The trouble is that San
Francisco as well as the greater part OF the state
is as unlOvely in midsummer as New-Iork Is III the
dOg-days. In winter II = seen at its BEST but the
Eastern visitors busy then and seldom find time
to spend on the long overland journey. Hence
tae number of complaints one sees from superficial
tourists who get their ideas of The State from
dusty AUNT to its two largest CT ties and dash
through the heart Of the State IN the cars The
latest and most amusing specimen of this tribe is
one who could find no fruit in the San Francisco
market that pleased his aesthetic palate with the
single exception OF the Mexican mango. The fact
that few people buy mangOes seemed 10 cause him
great astOnishment; it would not surprise anyone
who has paid a visit to the markets aud seen the
magnificent display OF peaches pears, grapes ana
other frult with which the stalls are piled high
from Jur, far into October.
This season has been an unusually good one for
frut ana one Of the best results of the fine crop is
that it has led to greater activity among the can
ming establishments and the fruit packers The
business of sending choice fruit across the CONT
lenl in reirigeratng cars has reached large proper
lions and Cannot fail TO have All excellent elect III
encouraging the growth Of good ,arIetles Caliior-
MIA fruit growers have been careless in the selec-
ton Of fine varieties; but the Eastern demand has
shown them that only the best fruit pays and
there has been a general Overhauling of orchards.
An equal improvement has been made IN the
method of canning fruit. Great care Is now taken
its selection and preparation. anu the day is not
far distant when California fruit product Will far
exceed the yield of precious metals. once ckcd on
a. the only source of wealth. You hear more about
the grape and wine interest than any other but tine
same enterprise which has led to the rapid growth
in VI ticuiture is seen in other branches Es?eci-
ally in the southern counties have capital and skill
combined 70 change the old-time methods. The
Mission grape has gwen place to the best varieties
for raisins aud VINE olive plantations have been
set ont; the apricot has been cultivated, aud Il
more general favorte with the Gamers than any
other frut. as it finds reader market abroad;
while the orange FL, nectarine, lemon and Lime
each receives attention from specialists who have
studied IL III its native place. In fine the subject
of fruit culture in California is worthy Of taI more
attention than it now receives No statistics can
is being done on the great fruit ranches OF the
Stare
The city is dull now. save for politics and local
politics tends mainly to "a fight over municipal
Offices There are few places in the country where
the bosses Of the "rings have Il wider field for
their operations than here and the resclt Is that
local elections may generally be narrowed down to
fierce faction fights between rival rings, which
ot me 4
Offices overloaded with incompetent clerks the
Increase of the expenses Of the local government
far Outruns the growth of the city; nearly four
millions have been expended on the City Hall.
which Is an architectural nonstroslty, without
dignity grace, with the cLcapnes Of It's appearance
agra waited By the barren sand-lots which . boa d
o. thrifty supervisors sold to private persons i'm
stead Of retaining aud improving as Il municipal
park as wa intended the sewers and streets arc
in wretched condition. the former adding materially
10 the death rate. whie the iattef are an cFr,oTe
and a TeprOach to the city. Enough money i spent
to put AL departments ia good order ana 10 remedy
all the existing abuses; but too large portion OF
II finds It's way into the pockets OF the professional
politicians
The visit of the Marquis Of LOrne and the Princess
Louise has formed the social event OF the week /
Unlike most foreign visitors they have made an
excellent impression by the simplicity OF their man
ner7 and their aversion to all display. mere as
"a great crush TO get look at the vce-reea party /
a lhrN drove uD 10 tne rance lOJelf "ii a7lVc /
from the annoyance them the visitors have not been
troubled by curious crowds An uniOrtuuaic .n- /
cidcut which IN fred their welcome % ihr Stale /
accident 10 the special train which brought |
them down from the SeTras Just rs II vas pull /
lng out Of the yard at Port Costa, Il ran into 4
an engine badly frightening all on board aud I
slightly lnJuring the Princess. The accident Was ,
SAID 20 be due - the carclesness OF the eng of
the vagrlnt locomotive, a. the Railroad officials I
had done every thing IN their power 10 provide for
the safety and comfort of their -tiugui-hed /
guests Inc Marquis proved that he had become /
some what AmeTIcanl7ed. for he took kindly L. the +
ne -pdpor reporters and answered all their Guc--
tons with much patience. Tho yice-regal party
accei ted very few invitations owing to the short
ness OF thcI stay. but the Governor General and |
S ryera members Of has party yesterday visited the
d IL ~ LII