The morning call., 1891-09-03
ALAMEDA COUNTY.
The Subject of Proper Repre-
sentatiOn at the Worlds Fair.

Editor of The Morning Call: Whatever is
worth doing at all is worth doing well, and
when a thing is to be done ample time
should be given in which to do it. With less
than two years before the opening of the
Worlds Fair, Alameda County seems to be
extremely slow in getting into working
trim. AS she heads the list of counties in
the State, alphabetically, there is no reason
why she should not lead as regards her ex-
hibits.
1t is going to be a stupendous task to ar
range and carry out any plan which will
adequately represent the diversified interests
OF the county. Oakland is rapidly becoming
city of manufactures, and the varied in
terests of the county outside should hold no
small place in the great display: salt works.
beet sugar factory, great nurseries,
noted stock farms, numberlesS wineries.
several of them with brands which
have already worldwide reputa-
ton; one or two good quarries, coal
mines. canneries, and perhaps half-dozen
more Industries not thought of at this
writing the whole topped by one of the
largest and best fruit centers of the State,
all added TO the long noisy line which skirts
a gOOdly portion of Oakland's water front.
All these ought surely to prove incentive
enough to ingenious minds to arrange and
carry out some practicable plan that would
rebound not only to their own credit, but
result in an ultimate good TO the county.
Aside from the laudable desire to put the
best foot forward" as it were, in all such
displays, is the business side, the adVertis-
Ing of the county in such manner as to
draw peoples attention and ultimately bring
them here.
The names upon the committees are good,
but more will need to be added from the
country districts, and more interest taken
in the meetings, so that they get to work
People are interested and are waiting the
action of these committees, when they Will
be ready to assist.
Orchardists are busy dipping prunes.
French or petite prunes are grown In all
this valley to perfection, only scattered lots
OF any other varieties being found. Prunes
are most prolific bearers, are not so perish
able as peaches and apricots aud are gener-
ally wise crop to handle. They are al
lowed to rlpen perfectly on the trees and
are picked up from the ground as they fall.
or the tree is shaken slightly, to allow all
that will free from the stem to drop. large
OrchardiSts spreading canvas beneath the
trees to save the labor and expense OF pick
ing them up. They are then dipped in
boiling wash, rinSed in one or two waters,
spread on trays and dried as other fruits
are. Every grower has his favorlte receipt
for the dip. usually using concentrated lye
with all the way from twenty to sixty gal
Ions of water to one pound of lye. This
year the skin of the prune does not shrink
or crack.as usual, and it is presumed that
the extreme heat month or so back
caused the skin to toughen. Peaches and
plums are being shipped by carloads yet
and as many more are being dried as
market could be secured for
As far as has been learned. no one in
Niles lost anything in the unfortunate Coz
Zens failure Of last week, but several people
both in lryiDgton and Centeryllle lost sew
eral hundred dollars worth each.
The almond trees in some orchards hang
full, in others there is not half crop.
Hay is selling at good prlce-Sl2 ton
and as result cows ami horses are cheap.
Some few months ago an endeavor was
made TO obtain a Union High School in this
township. under the bill passed during the
last session of the Legislature, All but one
district in the township were deslrous OF
forming such High School District but be-
cause Of tile anxiety of the members of the
Ceuterville Board of Trustees to secure the
school in that town, counter petition was
rushed through by them leaving out several
districts Upon the advice of the District
Attorney and County Superintendent of
Schools, the matter was allowed to rest for
a while, with the hope that more time you'd
be taken to get up the petition,
! allowing all districts wishing to join
plenty of time to do so, and allowing the
matter Of the selection of the site of the
school to rest with the High School Trus-
less. huuLuSI pctljlUu 10 INV WIN luc bu-
perinteudent, and an election will doubtless
be called according to law. One or two dis
tricts are still out, as this petition has been
rushed as rapidly as the other. Tine matter
| of the site of the school has caused much
discussion, many losing sight OF the fact
| that it must be located by the High School
| Trustees, who, with justice and fairness TO
| all the districts Interested, should place 1t
/ in as central place as possible, not geo.
| graphically but as regards accessibility, Tor
! each district represented.
| In picking fruit the farmer finds the first
scale Of the season Matching, and as goon as
| the leaves are of the trees the unequal war-
| fare Will begin. Already the merits Of the
| various WASHES are being discussed
While th6re are fewer kinds OF birds in
the orchards TINS year, there are fiocks upon
flocks of blackbirds chatter!ng in the trees
| or in the fields OF corn, They do no harm
| to fruit unless it is overripe.
The Ladies' Guild Will hold its first fall
meeting next Wednesday, which Is also its
annual meeting. The meeting will be held
at Mrs. III. g. Ellsworth's. The ladies take
refreshments, go at IL o'clock in the morn
ing and remain until o'clock in the after
| noon.
The Spare Minute Circle held its regular
meeting last Saturday evening at Miss
Jennie Ellsworth's. almost every member
being present The Boomerang was read
and received with Gs much enthusiasm as
usual; the editor was Mrs. F. II. Maar, and
her assistant Miss Ollie Lamb
w. W. Bristol and Miss Ollie Lamb were
delegates to the Bay Conference. which met
last Tuesday in Oakland; Rev. +. ii. Maar
| and his wife also attended
yesterday has commenced to rebuild his
hotel which was burned few weeks ago.
j. c. Astrue has nearly completed his hotel,
the St. Charles, and it is a very handsome
building. Frank Rose has about completed
his livery stable. He has already COM
menced work on his cottage.
Manuel Vierra was married last Sunday
to a young lady from Hay ywards. They will
occupy their pretty cottage on Main street.
The lagoon is lower chan for many years.
Mics September l. 1891 Mrs. L. E. THANE