Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-01
ICONOCLAST'S LETTER.
GOSSIP FROM THE CITY OF BAY'N-
CLIMATE.
Some characteristics of the People-Why
the City Does Not Advance-Some-
thing About Pilot Charges "A Col
lectors Troubles.
pecial correspondence to the HERALD.

Special correspondence to the HERALD.
SAN DIEGO, October 80, 1891.
The population of this rather peculiar
city is fearfully and wonderfully COM
posed. OF course there are here some
wide-awake progressive business men,
and many enterprising and energetic
citizens. But the trouble is this most
desirable element is far from rich-in
fact they have all they can do to get
along. The money of the town is in the
hands of very few people, and they in
tend to keep it. These few people are al
ways and forever bowling about how San
Diego has been ground down and
crushed under the iron heel of someone.
These ''money bags" do not seem to
realize the fact that the reason San
Diego is in the sad plight that it is in
today is because of the fact that they
grip their purses with the grip of death,
and no matter how urgent the case they
never let 60 OF dollar for the general
good until they absolutely are forced to
do SO.
x*x
Then there is here another element
that is quite numerous. 1t includes the
old-timers who have been waiting and
waiting for years to see the city perman-
emily prosperous. Instead of going into
that famous "back country of which
and to which every San Diegan points
and speaks with pride, they have put in
their time as Micawber waiting
for something to turn up."> If they had
put in the time they have spent kicking
in developing. the "back country"
things would be better here than they
are at present.
As was remarked above, this is very
strange and peculiar city. Although the
population is not large -only about a.
000-one would be surprised at the jeal-
ousy existing among citizens and neigh
bors. Ii one man secures position,
remunerative or important, combina-
tion is promptly made against him to
"do him up" in some way. To be sure,
the term ''do him up" is rather slangy,
but it is expressive, nevertheless. The
factional jealousies and the neighbor-
hood quarrels that exist in this commu-
nifty would Fill an encyclopedia. This is
another reason why San Diego does not
grow. New people come in and observe
this feature of life in the city of bay'n-
climate and leave in disgust.
x*x
The outlook for change in the office
Of collector of the port OF San Diego is
most promising just now. The present
collector was put in Office not only by
the aid OF his friends, but also with the
assistance OF his enemies. TWAS thought
that by giving him this Office he would
be content to attend to the affairs of the
office and let outside matters alone, as
became federal office-holder. No one
disputes the point but that if the duties
of the office of collector of the port were
properly looked after they would occupy
all of the attention of the present col
lector. The incumbent, however, did
not seem to think so. He mixed up in
outside affairs and made a war upon
certain interests. He got into disputes
with fellow office-holder with whom he
should be working in conjunction, and
the result is that the deuce is to pay
generally, Libel suits and all sorts Of
scandals and charges have been made
pro and con. The fight going on is an
interesting one, and decidedly sensa-
tional.
x*x
San Diego has been bowling for years
about steamships and vessels entering
this port and wondering why they didn't
come. The other day the Minneola came
in and discharged 300 tons OF freight.
The pilot charges were $3.50. These fig
ures were excessive in the extreme, and
the captain promptly stated that his
vessel would not put into that port
again. So you see we cry aloud for
steamships and vessels to come to US
and the first one that comes is robbed
by'excessive pilot charges, and the an
nouncement is made officially that it
will never again sail into San Diego bay.
x*x
AT present can still sign myself as
before. How long this will exist can
not tell. Look for change any time.
ICoNoCLAsT No. Two.
A RECONCILIATION HOPED.