The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-10-19
THE CALLS
QUERY COLUMN.
A Brief History of Gridley's
Famous Sack of Flour.
Yosemite Park Reservation = Pensions to
Widows-The Army on a Peace Foot
ing-singls-song Writers.

THE CALLS Query Column is conducted with
view TO aid all seekers after knowledge oil gel-
eral interest.
Catch questions will not receive any attention.
NO opinion will be given in this column regard
ing Inc reliability or character OF any person or
hrIns IN This city or elsewhere.
Questions, answers 10 which are 10 the nature
OF an advertisement, Will not be answered.
Every inquiry must have the true and full
name oil the sender, as we'll as the correct resi-
dence. Any inquiry that has not The cor
rect name and address OF the sender will
be treated as IL it was not signed, and the
writer need not expect an answer.
1.SgRIDLEY's SACK OF FLoUR-G. L. o.,
s&s5S Fresno, Cal. The story of Gridley's
sA.9 sack Of -four is briefly as follows:
Ruel Gridley OF Austin. New, was candi-
date for Office on the Democratic ticket in
1862, and wagered that he would beat his
opponent on the Republican ticket. the
terms OF the wager demanding that the loser
carry sack of -four from Lower to Upper
Austin. Gridley lost the wager, and when
his defeat was an assured fact, on the day
following the election he started on his tip
accompanied by almost the entire population
of the town. The question arose then what
to do with the sack of flour, and some in
geniOus individual suggested that it be sold
at auction for the benefit of the Western San
itaTy Commission. Gridley was constituted
the auctioneer, and the bag was sold finally
f0r $3.50. The purchaser declined to receive
it, but suggested that it be again sold. The
idea took like wildfire and the sack was sold
and sold again and before nightfall the sum
of $500 had been realized. Grid]ey entered
heart and soul in the plan and started with
the sack Of flour on an expedition immortal
lZlng himself, and, as result bringing joy
and comfort to thousands of suffering sol
diers. That sack was sold all over the West
and finally exhibited at the great Sanitary
Fair held at st. Louis, and the flour baked
into small cakes and sold at high prices.
When the grand total was added it was
found that Gridley's bet had been the means
of adding more than $500 TO the funds CT
the commission.
On A PEACE FooTING-J. j. G.. Ana
helm, Cal. With the recent consolidation out
of the service of two companies and as many
troops from each and every infantry and
cavalry regiment the enlisted maximum
strength of the army has undergone some
changes. Under authorization of existing
laws 1t has been assigned as follows under a
general order issued as recently as the 10th
nst
Iniantry-Twenty-fve regiments of infantry OF
10 COMPANIES EACH OF which s shall be with the
colors and unorganized each company to be
composed OF L FIRST sergeant sergeants,
corpofais, musicians 2 aiti1cers, WAGNER,
46 privaies; GO aggregate. To each regiment,
companies OF 60 men, $50; aon-commisSloIed
stan and regimeDta non-commssioned officers,
o. Toiat. iS5
Cavalry-Ten regiments OF cavalry OF IL troops
each, of which 10 shall be with the c0lors and
uuorganlzed; each troop to be composed OF
l first sergeant, o sergeauts, corporas, 2
;rumpeters, . fariiers aud bacKsmiiIs, l sad.
dler, WAGNER, - privates; 80 aggregate. To
each regiment, 10 troops OF 60 men, 600; nom
commissioned staff and regimental n0n-comns-
stoned officers. B. Total, COS.
Artilleiy-FWe regiments OF artillery OF II
batteries each, OF which 10 shall be heavy and 2
light Each battery shall be composed as fol-
lows: Heavy first sergeant, sergeants. 4
cOrpOras. 2 musicians, 'artiiicers l WAGNER
46 priyales, 60 aggregate; light, FIRST sergeant,
Sergeants, cOipOrals. musicians, artincers,
l wagner, 40 privaies, 60 aggregate To each
regiment, 10 heavy batteries OF 60 men, 600;
light batteries OF 90 men. 100; nom commissioned
staff and reglmenlal non-commissloned cihcers,
5. Total, 735
panies edch), II. l25; cavalry, 10 regiments 90
troops eachh G05O; artillery, . regiments az
batteries each) 3675; total for line OF The army,
p, $50.
Engineer Battalion, 500; Ordnance Depart.
ment, $50; West Point deiachmenis uncluding
army service men IN the QuartermaSter's Depart
guards (folt LeayenwortbI no; ordnance
sergean.s. 90: commssary sergeanls 800; post
gnafternaster seTgean!s So depot deiachments,
315; Iudian scouts, 47G; total, 1865; recruits
at depots 1856; authorized enlisted strength,
$4,000.
SUGAR AND JUTE-R. L., Alameda, Cal.
% According to the Tariff Bill all sugar
above a recognized standard will pay duty
after July /, 1891, but to offset the cut a
bounty will be paid of two cents per pound
on sugar from cane, beet and maple sugar
grown or produced in the United States.
The Republicans maintain that this will be
a great relief to consumers and that IL Is use
less to continue the tax because only small
fraction Of the sugar used i'll the United
States is produced in America. The Demo-
Gratis, while graclously admitting the relief
to consumers, declare however that the re-
moval of any tax would give relief, and that
il would be better to abolish taxes
which, as they claim, operate almost
entirely for the benefit of pri-
vate capitalists rather than one of which
nearly the entire proceeds 90 into the public
treasury. ~ Raw jute, which was s. per
ton, mas been put on tile free list, both par
ties agreeing to this. The Republicans argue
that this IS good policy for the farmers, be-
cause, in time, it will relieve them from their
dependence on the Calcutta market the ad
valorem duty on jute yarn having been re-
tanned, the duty on 1ute carpets slightly IN
creased per yard, on burlaps the ad valorem
duty changed to specific duty per pound,
etc. The Democrats maintain that the do
nestle mills which may be established will
charge Calcutta prices, plus the duty, as they
ha'e uohe heie'oIole.
PENSIONS TO WIDows-W. III. H.. CITY.
Congress- has been very liberal tn officers
j., ,,Iooin,- e., -, 40 Iii
The highest sums paid are 10 the widows of
Presidents, OF whom there are three living,
viz, Mrs. Polk, Mrs. Garfield and Mrs.
Grant, each receiving a pension OF 5000 a
year. Here is list of the officers widows
who are receiving under the new laws the
sums stated:
NAME. Rank of Husband Amount
Mrs. George H. Thomas; Aaior-GeneraL. $1,000
MIS- Mimneiu a ane0cA o99
Mrs, Francis P. STAR aior-tienerai 1000
Mrs Philip III Sheridan General ..-... 1000