New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-27
TOPICS IN LEADING CITIES.
SIN FRANCISCO.
LARGE HOLIDAY TRADE-THE MERCANTILE
LIHRARY-SARAH ALTHEA AGAIN.
LEY rELKGR VII To Tng rEIBUNR


san FgAyrI,co. Dec 2G.-Chrstmas trade in
most lines of business reported this season as
better than for s1yeal years but there was large
falling OIL in the amount of Articles sent through
the mails from tins city. The postmaster estimates
that the reduction III mail parcels was more imam
o1e-thiri.
The usual heavy rains which the holiday season
brings set ID last week and have confirmed Tor ten
day, The rains have caused great damage to badly
constructed sewers III the lower part OF the city'
and along MarAct-st. cellars have been iiOode' Inc
shameful condition of the sewer system ol t"e ctv
has beer demonstrated by these rains and it Is
probable that vigorous EFFORT Hill he mado 10
improve the system. The present limitation oil the
city tax TO II on 800 prevents any bat medSre
expenditure for building now sewers and repairing
street pavcments.
Tho advance guard of white ciglrmakers from
New-YOrk reached here this week. They PAID their
own fares and on their arrival were set to work IN
the factory in which the Chinese strike occurred
There is work here for many white cIgarmakers.
as several manufacturers have agreed to discharge
Chinese hands soon as they can fill their places.
The Mercantile Library, the oldest inst tuition OF
ITS kind in the city, has re need IFS subscription
rates from ST. to SO yearly The library has
$4,000 volumes aud "A large number 81 newspapers
/ y
financial straits, when lottery was organized aud
through 1t the library received nearly 1000
AFTER pay NJ all the prizes. Nlth TINS the present
building was constructed, but the marvel IS where
all the money went the Library for five 20 rs has
been retrrnchIng and now competition win the
Mechanics Institute Library has forced IL To REFUGE
il, dues. The largest collection ot books III the
city now is tho Free Library. which Is growing
rapidly.
Senator Fair has be- ne n railroad president this
week by the purchase of controlling interest III
the south Pdhitc coast Railroad, which rams from
tnIS city to Santa Cruz aud Monterey IL Is a
narrow gauge aud has about ninety miles of track
and is family ruulpued. FAR and Flood caCu owned
tbree-eightns of the road and Fair bought Flo Dds
interest, had himself elected president. anu IL N
rumored. is lying Dact for offers from trah -cOn,
tnentai lines The road has valuable iIauchlHe and
harbOr iacintlrs, as II owns Terry which Is OuE
short distance from the Central facihc.
Counsel for Sarah Althea have been IN con
sultatiOu Tor several day, over plan to defeat the
probate OF eX-.e natOr ShIrOns WILL which Is SGT
tor January I. Judge Terry Is the moving spirit
ana he claims 10 hayo discovered that tue pro-
visions the deed executed ~ tie ex-senator
aye Inconsistent with the Will and THAI under the
civil ode TINS deed rrvOkeS TIE Will Hence
counsel declare hlt Sharon died intestatc, and that
Sarah thea must receive a liberal slice OF the
property.
To prove that tho southern COMMITTEES have not a
monopoly OF semi-trbDcdl fruits. the northern
cOuntie, of California nave decided 10 mold ctris
far ut sacramento beginning January / ana con
tinuing FOR tOruis ht. In many of the warm belts
along the foothills of tho Sierras oranges are
grown without other shelter than "A hedge toward
oranges ana lemons is pronounced superior even u
the famous riverside fruit of San EeTnafdluo
County. FALL stories have been told of the proht
from California orange groves, hut here Is We
auihenti cacd instance; = riverside orange-srOwer
sold week his crop on the trees lor = ,OUO oil
which $500 10 clear profit