New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-25
SAN FRANCISCO.

LEGISLATIVE DENIS MIAMI A
RALSTON ESrATE-BAD WEATHER.
,raoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
SAN Francisco, March 15.-The state Less'.-
ture has adjourned with no enviaoe record OIL woiA
done Several important measures were passed AZ
the eleventh hour: Congressional apPortlonment
bill which Is fair to both parties; County Govern
man, hill aud the Bond bill authorizing San Fran
;.c, Tn ,sue $500 600 in bon 1s TO meet the present
voun;cipal dsfcIency. determined effort was
made by tie old Slickens lobby to push through the
bill for drainage claims OF contractors amounting
In over S57 OOO for work which was WORTHLESS anu
for which the State had no legal right 10 pay one
ceut but IL resulted IN failure. measure wnicn
proyed successful provides for the publication vi
school textbooks by the State. 1t probably con-
ceals u large" job" az it provides for the appoint
,pent of a commission whose members are 10 con-
nil. the books. and the State Printer is to publish
them. The chances of getting god and cheap
scbool books un6er these circumstances are very
.,ander OF the various railroad cinch" bills-to
nse AN expressive California phrase drawn IRON
4bs nnle-driyer's acknowledgement one passed. al
4houoh fully one-half the session was consumed
in their wordy discussion.
One importart measure the Legislature neglected
"a bill tc provide an equitable law for irrigation.
This is one of the vital interests oil the Slate anu
every year sess an increase in its Importance iu
several counties suits have been brought over water
rights the great cattlersisers claim the use OF 'e
water In the streams flowing through Their lana
uuder the old common law of riparian rights the
rsrchmen claim right TO draw OIL certain
,mount of water for irrigation, they hold that
without this privilege their land would De worth
less. The chief fight is in the Tuare Valley where
some of the heaviest crops Of wheat are grown Win
the aid Of irrigation.
r. far the uois,est an most offensive Of the lobby
ists who swarued al out the State Capltol III the
closing days of the session was Denis kearnev-
uhi,om leader of the Sand-lot party and an object
of terror to quiet, conservative people; now'
pricked wind. bag, with his blg. mouih-hlng oaihs
al, gone. a ragged contemplate naugeron of ward
no,itics The Governor has shown his good sense by
ignoring the claims of this man TO party consdera-
ton but the Sand-lot apostle OF Communism Is not
modest During the last week be boldly invaded the
floor OF both houses and button ho!ed mem"eIs 70
serure the appoutuent as chief whaThnger In TINS
CITY. IL is to the credit of the Democratic party
that il had no stomach for this scurvy rogue.
The Ralston estate which has lain in court Tor
s,yeral years has finally been settled IN by the
payment of 100000 in cash and large ranch In
the northern part of the State to Mrs Raston win
n fat fee to her lawyer. No one will ever know the
vaIue of the real estate farming lands, and securi
ties turned over by Ralston ex- Senator Sharon
and others )ust before he took the fatal plunge at
the North Beach baths; but it is belIeyeu that
thew could afford to compromise with the widow Oh
these terms.
Speaking Of Ralston reminds one of man who III
earlier California days played similar part.
Sam" Brannap was the Ralston OF the first decade
of the new history this State which dates froW the
finding of gold at Coloma. He made fortune and
lost it drifted into life of idle vagabondage about
the saloons, and finally anchored at Guaymss,
where he obtained considerable property and III now
waiting for the railroad to bring him wealth again
In his old age. lie wac originally Mormon Ill fact
bs was at the head of u colony Lound for Salt Lake
when the gold fever broke out lie forsook tue
cause of the SAINTS: bis followers also used alter
mammon; and the result was that the expedition
went to pieces in the city. The Mormons never for
gave their renegade apostle. Thsy charged him
with founding fortune ON the coin uf the Church,
and they looked ON his subsequent reverses as a
Visitation of Heaven. Only last week the Mormon
organs contained notices of Branuans poverty with
tho prophecy of Farley Pratt that he would not die
until he had been in want of crust OF bread. SO
bitter and unrelenting is Mormon hatred OF the
Apostste.
The reports from the interior are gloomy
The long needed rain does NOT come the fields ais
drying up; another fortnight without showers and
The wheat crop will be ruined for this season. il
rome parts of the southern countiesabundant rail-
has fallen, but all the central aud northern
counties are dry bune.