New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-12
TOPICS IN LEADING CITIES.
SAN FRANCISCO.
EXTRAORDINARY swINDLlNG-wINE PRO-
DUCTlON-CITRUS FAIR" COUNT SMITH

FAIR" COUNT SMITH.
Jpr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSEl
SAN Francisco. Dec 1.-the course of the
mining stock market this week has revealed the
thoroughly artificial character of the boom. The
series of failures at the close OF last week caused
such distrust among brokers that they refused To
IN on with business until their accounts had been
adjusted. Sunday and Monday were given up TO
this business. On Monday both exchanges were
closed. The excitement on the street was intense,
bus the action of the exchanges alarmed small
snecul.tors and gave the market blow from which
IL did not recover Some eager specua tors paid as
high as S57 for Consolidated California and Virginia
On the street. but Oh Tuesday when the exchanges
onsncd the bears made raid and knocked it down
IN $40 and other stocks in proportion. The bulls
rallied their forces and showed prices nearly up to
the original figure but the effort was too great tc
be maintained Since then all leading stocks have
fallen Oft from So to So per share every day with
wild fluctuations On several days the failures
during the week have been especially disgraceful.
IN many cases the brokers used themselye the
money entrusted to them by customers for pur-
chasing stock These breaches OF trust have been
60 lavrant that several swindled spectators pro-
nose to institute criminal proceedings against the
men who have robbed them. The utter lack OF all
commercial honor among trusted brokers' is one OF
the worst features of this stock deal
The rain which began on Tuesday ana continued
ot intervals for three days has done some good but
not ononcb has fallen to admit of ploughng. In
many localities, especially in the San Joaquin
Valley the rain was pretty evenly distributed anu
the Signal Service reports good chance for more.
In most places the fall to date is not more than
ouethird of that in the corresponding period last
wear. In this city and vicinity the rainfall has
been nearly FIVE inches, as against Twelve ana one
boIf,,st year. In Salinas and Santa Clara Valley
the fail ranges from one and one-half to two ana
tbree-ouarters inches while in San Luis Obispo it
was under one inch. The northern counties report
from two TO three and half inches, falling of Of
from tv Give to fifteen inches as compared with
last year.
Ono of the worst looking games played
here for some Zine is that OF ). d. Bodwel'
who was manager OF the racine Manu-
factnrno ana TRANSPORTATION Company. This was
a CORPORATION organized by well-known merchants
10 introduce BodwclPs method OF using petroleum
as fuel The inventor claimed that petroleum couid
Inc nsed in stoves and ranges al great reduction IN
nrice of fuel Nearly $4,000 shares OF stock were
spld for which ga 900 was realized 1t IS nov two
years since the scheme was started ana notaing
has been done by the manager to make the venture
a business success. The stockholders recently
Amounted an Investigating committee, whcn
reported that Bodwell bad used $4,000 without out
authorization and had sold 1000 shares OF stock Tor
which he had made returns. Also tnat ne ioisteu
on the company a spurious patent Ietahne
himself the valuable patent. Bodwen peauleu gu,
invested their sa wings in the conpanys STOCK
Some light is thrown on bis operations by the sun
which he has brought for O.OOO against tne
enfaulting stock broker Baldwin Gardiner. he
claims that Gardiner held stocks belonging tro MN
of this value and asks for Judgment.
The case of the young murderer Goldenson has
heen postponed for two months to permit the taklhe
I'd In
GOdenson's grandparents. There was smal
ground for suCh procedure aud IL Is regarded as y
device the part OF the accused 10 gam tiile -
that public sentiment may have opportunity u
cool Goldenson, it will DO remembered, shot GOWN
n Young girl in the street and then DETAINED
her reputation to Justify nus deeu, mls ao'0" '''
to an attack on the county jail DJ a mop.
A careful estimate by leading wine firm places
this years vintage at 1880, 900 gallons. Napa
Comfy leads in production with over 4,OOO,OOO
About one-seventh OF the crop has been or Is oene
rapidly transformed into brandy. The prodnction
of sweet wines has been considerably restricted.
The character of this seasons wines is reported as
superior The Burgundies and Zinfandels and other
clarets show fine color and fautless in ferment
alton. The years business SHOWS an increase on
about 100000 gallons over Iast year arsa
increase. William Hudson, one OF the p,ost plomi-
nent of London WINE merchants, Will come 70
narts of the State. Last August IN London he
tasted a number of California Burgundies and
clarets and praised their quallty highly. deciarhg
conld introduce it in England, where the sale OF
California wine has been slow. HIS decision on
the merits of California wines after personal ana
thorough inspection Will be regarded W oealers
and W ine-makers as OF great value
@Count" Smith, the chief clerk of the Palace
Hotel who is known to thousands of visitors tt
San Francisco because of his remarkable memory
has lust recovered from dangerous illness due tt
| blood poisoning. The Count 10 credited with
never forgetting visitors face or name, and many
tests of this faculty have resulted In success fol
| hun.
| The Northern California Citrus Fair, which will
| be held next week at Sacramento promises to be
valuable exhibition of what can be done in tb'
semi tropical belt of the foothills 1t has beer
| demonstrated that oranges may be grown il
| favored localities as far north as Shasta County
and that they will ripen from two to three week.
| carrier than In the southern counties
Good Government land Is scarce in most Of tn
fertile counties of California but an estimate jus
| made sho Wa that IS, 600. Quo acres OF Government
land are still unoccuped. San Bernardno Count.
| leads the list With 100000 acres and San Dieg
| follows with 100000 OF course all this land y
the southern counties demands irrigation, but witt
the system there need be no lack of water