New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-16
TOPICS IN CALIFORNIA.
THE ALASKA SCANDALS-JUDGE TERRY
SUED-vTNE DISEASE

AlaSFa OOnsntrCldl 0OupdDy, winch mas Ddu W
bear the odium of the msdeeds of the miners and
the military The general opinion among those
making the charges seems to be that the Alaska
Company controls the whole of Alaska Territory,
and is responsible for its morality. The simple
facts are that the Alaska Commercial Company
has no station within COO miles of Stl1a; that
all its business is carried on in the northern part
OF the Territory; and that at only one Of its
stations. BelskofslSy. is there mining camp in the
neighborhood Its agents forced to behave
justly and honorably TO the Indians. as the natives
in this part of Alaska will not permit such treat
ment Of their squaws is tolerated by the
Indians Of Southeastern Alaska. Among the
latter il is the custom of chief TO give his
principal wife TO an honored guest to be the
guests companion during his stay with them, and
the morals OF these Indians have always been bad
Those who are most familiar with Alaska ascribe
the beginning of gross immortality in Alaska to
the occupation Of the Territory by United States
troops No stronger testimony of the evil in
fuence Of the soldiers could he given than that Of
W. S Dodge, Collector of Customs and Mayor Of
Sitka who in a report 10 Special Indian
Commissioner Vincent Collier in 1860, says
The conduct of certain military and naval off,
GERS and soldiers has been bad and demoralzing in
the extreme" These immoralties continued dur
ing ten years OF military rule, and still continue.
The Governor has done nothing TO suppress liquor
stores and dance houses in Sitka and other mining
centres. In fact, there is evidence to prove that
he has issued licenses 20 lquor-deaers for the sale
of liquors in Sitka and Juneau although this is
contrary to the territorial laws The result of the
immunity to these grogshops is great spread of
immortality among the natives who will sell their
offspring wives for whiskey.
The reported seizure OF big cargo Of sugar on
the Westmeath, from Java, turned out TO be only
the ordinary holding OF vessel for examination.
The Custom House experts declared that the
sugar was undervalued and artifcially colored;
and the consignees who happen to be the repre-
sentatives Of the Sugar Trust on this
der protest The whole matter has been re-
ferred 10 Washington. Claus Spreclxles de-
vised the scheme of Selling the vessel, and
gave the Customs House officers the facts
in regard TO the sugar. In order to hurt his
rivals he also had dispatches, announcing the
seizure sent all the country before the news
was printed in the San Francisco newspapers
II the custom house records are examined, how
ever, it will be found that Sprec1es himself has
had larger cargoes than this seized in the same
way. and that he has paid as much as $4,000
additional duty, which afterward' refunded
to him from Washington.
During November 5000 passengers went over
the Southern Pacific lines to the East while
nearly IL 900 came into California; and 1t is
expected that the present month will show still
greater increase of west-b bound travel. One in
convenience of heavy travel this way is that the
companies forced to send back many empty
passenger coaches.
II is probable that the famous Blythe will case
will come up for trial early next year as the
testimony for some of the chief contestants is now
being taken in Edinburgh. The plaintiff in the
case is Florence Blythe, who claims to be a
natural daughter of the dead millionaire, and who
has strong proofs in the form of letters received
from him just before his death Her leading
counsel was Hall McAllister who recently died.
Next TO hers the strongest case has been made out
by the Kentucky Blypnes. who claim direct
descent from Blythes brother.
The second trial of DINING for the murder Of
Benhayon is now going on. but although the
mystery Of Benhayon's death is only nine months
old, no one pays much attention TO the case.
The prosecution claim that they have evidence
which directly connects DR.. Bowers with the
murder and shows that he planned the conspiracy
70 remove BenhayOn IN order TO save his
neck from the halter.
United States Marshal Franks, in his answer TO
Judge Terry's suit for false Imprisonment, de-
mands damages of 81 600 for TerryS assault
The heaviest rain Of the season has fallen
this week and has been general In the San
Joaquin Valley it is reported that the prospects
for q large crop have not been so good for six
years The farmers are now busy ploughing and
sowing grain
One Of the measures for the development Of
the suburbs of Oakland is the building of cable
road 10 Piedmont pretty but unsettled spot in
the foothills, which overloolIs the Golden Gate
The university town Of Berkeley also is growing
rapidly, many new houses being under way.
company has just been incorporated here
for the manufacture Of champagne under new
German patent by which, it is claimed, fermen-
tation is accelerated Instead of waiting two
years for slow fermentation fine champagne can
be made by this process in three or four weeks.
Although competent expert has been at work
for several months studying the new vine dis
ease in Southern California; he has not yet dis
covered the cause Enough is known, however
10 enable him 10 declare positively that this
disease, which has ruined thousands of acres of
VINEYARDS, is not produced by any insect The
send out an expert next spring 20 assist this man
in the study of the disease, and j. De Barth
Short, Of Los Angeles has built conservatory
in which vines may be forced this winter in order
that the expert may carry Oh observations.
The granting of new trial by the Supreme
Court TO Irwin, Of the alleged murderers OF
DR.. Powers, in the notorious Bear Valley con-
spracy, was only what was expected from the
prejudice Of the San BenitO Court in admitting
Illegal evidence. 1t seems almost hopeless to Sc
cure a fair trial in San Benito Of any OF the men
concerned in the murder because Of the intense
partisan feeling in that county.
The track of the Southern Pacific Coast
line has been laid for Ave miles south OF Tenn
peton, in San Luis Obispo County. The work
is being pushed and the road will probably
reach Santa Margarita By January /.
About the only land boom in the State at
present is Templeton where a fine grain
and fruit growing country is being developed.