New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-27
TOPICS IN CALIFORNIA.
ruuIAN WAR EXCTrEMENr-FRUlrS AND
NATURALIZATION LAKE
,,x,rtyesArH TO The TRIBUNE

srl,r as much excited this week over ohlhan mat
." washi,oton. The arrival of the cruiser
c. rrancisco with sealed orders TO sail to-day,
~. LARGO amount OF ammunition which she has on
rod for the Charleston, Boston ana yorktown,
~ CHILEAN brutality told by Engineer
Shi.Ids Of The steamer Keewenah-al these things
hays stirred public interest TO the highest point.
n.sni,c the warlike nature of the cable dispatches
from VALPARAISO Californians arc loath to believe
that chlians really mean what they say, as their
hraCginS WAYS are we'll known on this coast
7. is significant. however, of the confidence of
,ha reonle in the Administration that no fear is
.xpresssa Of any backing down by this Govern
,ocnt Admiral Brown impressed this week
with the large transport feet which San Francisco
couId nut at the service Of the Government at
few DAYS notice. The Spreckels firm alone can
furnish four steamships of the first-cass, as well
.s the largest tug on the Coast for torpedo-boat
The story told by Patrick Shields, of the keewenah
which was forwarded yesterday to Washington by
District Attorney Garter. may he embellished some
what but still furnishes corroborative evidence
OF the vicious attacks made on Americans IN val
paraiso Shields asserts that the Chilians were so
Impressed with the injustice done TO him that they
promised him $4,000 indemnity, hut whether this
he a fact or only a sailors yarn II is diffcult 10
saw Shields is badly battered. and there is no
question that his constitution was shattered by
the ill.treatment he received His story is corroo-
GRATED by q shipmate who was a witness OF his
sufferings.
The report of the Grand Jury summoned oy
Judge Wallace and declared illegal by the STATE
Supreme Court proved tame document
About the only result of the Grand Jurys work
was TO scare Boss" Buckley out Of the state
That any other reform accomplished Is not
svident The more the full facts come out, the
more il is clear that Judge Wallace devised the
scheme of drawing the Grand Jury by elisor solely
20 gain personal notoriety which ne could use
for his political advancement. His greatest de-
sire is q seat on the United States Supreme Court
bench but as long as Justice Field remains he has
no chance of gaining this honor. Next TO this
Judge Wallace would enjoy seat in the
Unfted States Senate He hoped, by max
ing war on Buckley and his gang, as
well as on all boodlers" to secure the sup
port OF the best men in both parties IL
was clever scheme, but the overriding Of legal
authority alarmed the people They saw more
peril In the usurpation of their rights by Judge
Wallace than in the escape of the petty officials
who had been guilty of corruption.
Statistics of fruit shipments this year, which are
now fairly complete, show that California has
produced a more valuable crop of fruits and vege-
tables than in any previous year. or oranges, no
less than 10000, 900 pounds were shipped, while
the total shipments of other green fruits amounted
to 100000 mounds. Dried fruit shipments
reached the enormous figures Of 100000 pounds
Raisins furnished 100000 pounds, against
81 900, 900 last year. OF canned goods, TINS
years shipments were 100000 pounds, against
a.. 900. 900 last year In everything except wine
and salmon there has been great increase in ship
ments showing that the year is of the most
successful ever known for farmer and fruit-grower.
Stock is being rapidly taken in the Cape Horn
Steamship Line, started by merchants IN order 70
secure lower freight rates from the East III Is
expected that the first steamer will he ready
by next September Most of the vessels will be built
here Experts have estimated that the traffic be-
tween San Francisco and South American ports VIII
pay all expenses thus enabling the company TO
give low through rates between New-York and
this city.
Michael Hawkins who sent threatening letter
10 Ms Peter Donahue and who was arrested last
week still langushes in JAIL as no one is willing
10 furnish 5000 bail Hawkins was COUSIN o.
tie millionaire Peter Donahue. and on the latter's
death expected TO be his legal heir but because OF
his dissiDated habits he received nothing. since
then he has nIrsed his grievance, and has ALREADY
made one desperate attack on Mrs. Donahue. Inc
most charitable inference is that Hawkins mlnd
Is unbalanced. In the DAYS Of his prosperity ne
was a kindly. generous fellow but failure OF the
firm of Daily < IIaw ms drove him TO drink, ana
he has been steadily going down hill Tor ten
years.
Fresno raisin-growprs have initiated the River
side ce-growers and freed themse Ives from the
cxactions of the middemen in marketing their
crop. Cooper alton tried on small scale
last year and proved successful. This season
four large cooperative packing associations were
started as well as several smaller ones These
have packed and shipped the bulk Of the Fresno
County raisns and the success of the plan is as
snred The movement has been violently opposed
by the large dealers. because IL prevents them from
making speculative deals.
The making of salt has been resumed by
Superintendent Durbrow, thus demonstrating that
Sa1ton Lake which created much interest last
sumner is no more. The only danger of return
Of the water is from the overlooking OF the
CoIorodo Piver next February.