New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-06
TOPICS IN CALIFORNIA.
BOLD TRAIN ROBBERS-THE RAISIN IN
DUSTRY-RAAfIE FIBRE-HAWAIL
cBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TnIpUSE.I


San Francisco, Sept 5-The daring attempt 10
rob Southern Pacific passenger train in the oan
JOAQUIN Valley on Thursday night has excited
great interest here as it is the fourth attempt Of
the same kind made within two and half years,
and all were apparently the work OF the same
gang of desperate highwaymen. In each case
the train stopped by two masked men VINO
made the engineer and firemen assist them IN
opening the express car In all these robberies
the highwaymen have shown a cynical contempt
for human life, shooting down any one who APP
preached, whether train officers or passengers.
On previous occasions the robbers have secured
large booty amounting, in one case to SlO,oOo'
This time they gained nothing, because OF the
attack made on them by the railroad detective,
Harris, who was dangerously wounded by ulelr
return fire. The great San Joaquin plain anoruS
fine opportunity for such crihe
as this. Between cities like Modesto anu
MERGED there are miles Of level couil-
try without single house. 1t was on one Vi
these dcsolate places that the latest robbery oc-
CURED. The highwaymen knew they need eA-
pect no interference from country people ana they
boldly blew up the express car with bombs "hen
their nerve failed them and they fed they also
had the assurance that pursuit could not ne maze
before morning, as trailing fugitives with blood
hounds is unknown IN this State. The mountains
can I've reached in three hours by hard riding from
the scene of the crime, and once among the WOODED
canyons of either the Coast Range or the Slerras
pursuit is well nigh hopeless. Many schemes nave
been devised to check this stopping of railroad
trains in the San Joaquin Valley, but thus far
none has proved successful. The railroad and
express companies offer big rewards after each
crime, but thus far the highwaymen have escaped
10 xty0E
against the Dalton brothers for stopping train
last February, but no conviction has yet been OBJ
tanned.
Raisn shippers are complaining bitterly of the
slight reduction in the rates on raisins They
asked for a ffty-cent reduction per 100 pounds
to all points East, but the Transcontinental
Association has just granted five cents
reduction. This gives the California rasin men
no advantage in competition with the Spanish pro-
ducers At this new rate it will be impossible for
Californians to lay down loose raisins in New.
York for less than ga or cents per pound,
while Valencia raisns are sold at cents.
Fourteen years ago a movement was begun here
TO erect statue to Starr King, the eloquent pulpit
orator. who did more than any other single man
to rouse a patriotic feeling in California during
the War of the Rebellion, and who was the lead
ing spirit in securing the largest sum for the SAM
tary Commission given by any State in the Union.
The work is nearly done, and in November
the statue will be unveiled in Golden Gate Park.
1t is in bronze, of heroic size, eleven feet high.
1t was designed by Daniel c. French, of New
York.
Experiments have been made on ]. B. Hag-
gins ranch in Kern County to determine whether
the fibre of the rame plant may be
separated from the bark without large
expense. French machinery of recent design
was imported and the result is said to be
satisfactory, some excellent towels having been
turned out Ramie grows well on dry lands
which will not even produce wheat: and if it can
be manufactured economically, it opens great
industry, as its use is increasing as a material to
unite with silk.
Governor Markham has refused to declare
Labor Day, September Z, a legal holiday in Cal.
ifornia, as the trades unions requested, but he
suggests that il be reserved as a day of recreation
and has ordered the State offices to be closed.
It is proposed to build an electric railway from
Pasadena to the summit Of Mount Wilson, on
which is to be erected the largest telescope in
the world. If carried ont this will bring the
new observatory within the reach of tourists.
Letters from Hawaii show serious disafrecticn
among the natives What is unusual is that native
Ilawaians are developing taste for agitation
which heretofore has been confined TO halt-brecds
and whites. In newspaper run by an eX. Cabinet
officer named Bush, natives have articles declaring
in favor Of annexation 10 the United States as
the only means of saving the islands from being
overrun by Asatic coolies A new scheme of the
suqaT-planters is 10 import thousands OF East IN
dian coolies such now 90 to Dcmerara With
this cheap labor only can they compete with Cuba
and Demerara. An effort is also being made TO
boom the lIawgiian Islands us a tourist resort.
There is no question but that they are fully as
interesting in many ways as Japan, and far easier
TO reach. The fare is low. steamer service is
unsurpassed, and the view Of the great volcanoes
now in activity is unparalleled, not even We
Suvus in eruption revealing such a sight as the
crater Of kilauea furnishes.