New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-20
TOPICS IN CALIFORNIA.
MRS. FAIRS wILL-THE CASE OF NJ B. CUR
TIS-HYDRAULIC MINING.
tsY TELEGRAPH TO THE rmDuSE.i

|
San Francisco. Sept 10-ContraFy to general
expectation, Mrs Fair left her entire estate to her
four children, ignoring completely all charities and
even leaving the Catholic Church out in the cold
to which it was generally believed she would
make handsome bequest The estate Of over
81 900, 900 goes in equal shares to two daughters,
otter 100000 has been paid to the two sons,
james and Charles. In this disposition OF her
J large estate, however, Mrs. Fair consistently fol-
lows the example Of every millionaire, with single
exception, who has ever died in this State. James
| Lick stands out in sharp contrast with the long
| list of men who have acquired tremendous wealth
| and who have gone TO the other shore without
leaving a dollar for any public or charitable use
in the State to which they owed their millions.
From the testimony taken at the inquest upon
the murdered officer, Grant. it would seem as
though the actor, NJ. B. Curtis, would have a hard
fight for his life The handcuf he had on when
arrested has been identified the property of the
murdered officer and several witnesses have been
found who saw the shooting and can identify Cur
It's as the man who did it. However, as Curtis,
or StrelIingcr rather, has plenty Of money and
has retained one of the best criminal lawyers in
the State, g. A. Knight, it is altogether probable
that he will escape any severe punishment.
TIE accident on the Tehacapi grade OF the
Southern Pacific Railroad this week is another
instance of the antiquated system Of raroading
prevailing in this State. There is not a double
track line in California, and the sngletrack ss-
TEN prevails without any modern appliances for
safety, such as block signals. Heavy trains are
equipped with only two brakemen; and in the
case of the accident the other day, had it not
been for the passengers, who put on the hand
brakes, the train, crowded with passengers, would
have been dashed to pieces over an embankment,
as a runaway train was, in the same place, several
wears ago In this case, the train stood for two
hours in darkness, without so much as sending
man back with red lantern or putting tOrpedoes
on the track to warn the freight train that the
passenger conductor heard was coming. Yet the
railroad officials solemnly assert that the accident
was one of those things that could not he pre-
vented Happily Coroner's jury has been found
that was independent enough to speak the truth,
and q verdict was returned that the accident was
solely due to the gross negligence of the train
employees
The most extraordinary state of affairs pre-
walls at the State Prison at San Quentin. The
authorities learned of plot for general delivery
of the 400 prisoners. Arms and dynamite are
secreted somewhere inside the prison walls, but
diligent search fails to locate them. Seven ring
leaders have been locked up on bread and water,
but all resolutely refuse to give their comrades
away Extraordinary to relate, the convicts are all
regularly supplied with daily papers, and age al
lowed to minge with one another In the yarn ana
in the jute mills, and carry on conversation, maze
plans etc. without the slightest attempt at SUPER
vision The prison resembles big factory where
hundreds of free men are at work more than an III
stitution for the punishment Of crime, The prison.
Id IAr% and H.
ties are in daily fear Of terrible revolt WHAT
needed is a little Sing Sing or Auburn discipline
The so-called reform grand jury has not ao-
complshed anything. vet have mace nooie az
tempts at investigating minor departments OF the
CITY government. But places like the police, hre
and school departments, that are reeking with
corruption are carefully let alone. The proba-
bility is that great splurge will be MADE and
perhaps few politicians obnoxious to
the members Of the grand jury NAV
be indicted. but the general pupnc 90
not look for any genuine reform from BODY OF
men made up so largely Of politicians whose past
records will in many cases not bear inspection
The foreman Of the jury himself is far from being
above suspicion. his land grabbing operations in
Northern California being notorious.
Propositions to cede lands to the States and
Territories In which they are situated viii not
receive much support in California. The people
of this State are too familiar with the manner IN
which the public domain has been sauandered
in the past to have any faith in such propo-
sition The fact is that the land problem Is
working itself out in this State. As fast as lands
need to be irrigated. private enterprise ond organ
zation of districts under the Wright Act Tor the
construction of irrigation works and the Issuing
of bonds on the lands to be irrigated supply the
demand. There is no use trying to reclaim these
lands faster than the demand for them for settle
ment There are hundreds Of cases here where
the settlers take 100 acres under the Homestead OF
presumption laws and obtain water for few doiars
an acre from private companies or districts. Inc
necessity for the cesson OF the land is not at all
apparent and would open the way for much cor
ruption and iobbery
Dispute whether Salton Lake in the desert has
affected the climate of that locality seems setteu
by actual observation. Heavy clouds are seen
to rise from the surface. drift westward to"'iru
the mountains, and then ensueS heavy precp-
itation of rain Districts have been visited WIN
daily storms in that section since the flood where
before there was scarcely sprinkle OF ram all
through the summer. People who 1--we there are
confident that these rains are caused py eNdpo-
ration from the lake in the desert.
There is better feeling toward hydraulic miners
NOW Than for wears The question Il belng as
cussed whether mining shall not De resumed ID
localities where little damage VIII on done 10
the streams Hundreds of millions OF gold are
stiu lacked in these mines and the world de-
mands that it be taken out The hydraulic miners
are confident that some means will soon be tound
to enable them 10 go to work AGAIN.