New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-15
TOPICS IN CALIFORNIA.
SWINDLING CONTRACTORS - THE TIDE
AGAINST SARAH ALTHEA-MINING.
my TELEGRAPH TO THE TsrBUyE.

iBY TELEGRAPH Tribune.
San Francisco June l4.-The report of the ex-
perts on the walls of the Larkin-st wing of the
new City Hall shows serious defects in the four
great piers. which must DC rebuilt 10 make the
structure safe In the other piers bad work was
found which will require repairs. The contrac-
tors have agreed to do the work of repair and
rebuilding under the instructions of the archi-
tects. sThey lay all the blame for the defective
work on the brickIayer, Hanks, who made the ex-
posure, but it is curious that one man should
have been able to stuT all these walls without
detection. The result of the exposure will be
careful inspection Of the construction in all
parts of the building. Since Buddensck came TO
grief with his mud walls in New-York City no
such caricature Of masonry has been seen in this
country As these walls of San Franciscos largest
city building.
The notorious Sharon case received its quietus
this week when the Supreme Court
rejected the decision Of the lower court
giving Sarah Althea $500 for alimony and
counsel fees, and declared positively that the d.
vorce suit should never have been brought in the
lower court. The decision holds that the Federal
Court first had jurisdiction of the original case,
and that the elaborate trial in the Superior Court
was invalid. This dsposes of the new suit broughr
bA s'didu AlD'd anu, Ill Tue opifiioH VI wv pVSo
lawyers, it also ends all other litigation in the
celebrated case. After over eight years of legal
fighting all that Sarah Athea has is the wreck
of Judge Terry's estate.
The Viticultnral Commission elected for presid
ing officer Charles A. Wetmore, for six months nj
least curious feature of the affair Is that Mr..
Wetmore was the only rival Of Mr.. Alastn for the
place, and the contest between them was close
After two years. the Lick trustees have at last
secured four models for statuary 10 he erected in
front of the new City Hall. The provisions for
their complexion which limited them TO four de-
signers, were violated by artist, who was al
lowed several days extra in which to complete
his work This gave him time TO inspect and
benefit by the work of his rivals.
The death Of a hotel waiter. as the result of
brutal pounding received in one Of the athletic
clubs has aroused discussion over the main
tenance Of these clubs, in which prize-fghts are
tolerated BY the police 1t is probable that
new law will be passed this winter suppressing
this kind of entertainment. One newspaper
threatens to treat the next big prze-fght at the
California Athletic Club social affair and
give full list of the prominent judges, lawyers,
doctors. capitalists, etc, who attend Without
their countenance and money the club would
drop out of notice as it could not offer purse
that would attract any sluggers
The failure and collapse Of Belford, Clark &
Co. led to that of Carson, who here from
Boston ten years ago and did a large business
During the last year the book business on the
Coast has been demOrallzed. The wet weather
at Christmas compelled Carson to carry a stock
Of over $4,000 Then since January / no less
than six local booksellers have failed, besides
the collapse Of Belford. Clark ~ Co, VINO had an
agency here. Carson discounted their paper. AMI
il was a demand tor some OF Ibis that brought
out the attachment Tor $4,000 by TIE Sather
Banking Company.
Wilson Barrett closed a four weeks engage
ment heH tonight. lie was received with favor,
but without enthusiasm, and was disposed 10 re-
fer this lack OF warm appreciation 10 the puDno
fondness for variety shows aud plays ot coarse
humor. The fault that local critics found with
him was that he too heavy Il tragedian 10
suit the California taste, which prefers Booth or
Frederick Warde to the English actor Inc
Gondoliers7 was brought out this week Mt The
Tivoli. and did large business from the opening
night William II. Crane ended tonight a re-
markably successful four weeks season N LLOYD
clever play. The Senator. The BUSH Streeo
Theatre was packed nightly, and 'rane ana
George Drew Barrymore divided the honors'
Professor Carl Lumholtz. the Norwegian nat
uralist who spent three years among tIf m
Of Queenslahd is now cSora me Georrsphica So
cietv ON Australian Aborigines. lie Is on his
way to MEXICO and Central America
There was another lively furry in the Comstock
mining market this week. Potosi advancing 10
So on \ iump and Lion advancing from 81 to
SS There is no doubt that the insiders have good
ore which they can show up az any time IN na il
',,inr nloce makes the market very sensitive
and G Gambling in shares as exciting as poker with
high stakes.
The prospectors who discovered the new mining
district Of iIarqua IIala in Southwestern Arzoha,
in, .1tat- NJ
,yeeL for S31 900 When the first strike was
made the ore assayed So well that II looked as
though n great bonanza had been toInd. HUH
dreds of miners rushed in, as they dId 10 Lower
California placcrs. and many suffered great hard-
ships before they reached home.