New-York tribune., 1891-09-27
TOPICS IN CALIFORNIA.
THE FLIGHT OF BOSS BUCKLEY-wHEn
CROP RESULTS-RAISINS.
rsr TELEGIsArH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]

of the community was the public announcement
of the fact that Christopher Buckley, the blind
boss of the Democratic party, and his chief
henchmen-" Sam" Rainey, Jere' Driscou and
Jake" Rudolph, who were presumably wanted
by the Grand Jury now in session-had fled TO III.
Canadian border. They are accused of all som,
of crookedness, it being openly charged that Buck
leys fine country house called RayenwOod, a.
Livermore was built and painted by workmen
who drew their pay from the school department.
Buckley and Rainey, who recently resigned
lucrative place in the fire department, are be.
!. lieved to be the agents Of legislative bribery of
corrupt bargains with municipal onicers-in fact
with having enriched themselves for years pss
at the expense of taxpayers. The latest newx
from Buckley. whose trip from this city to Van
couver. curiously enough was series of ovation
from Democratic organizations which had pa
heard of his downfall, is that he is on biz
way to Montreal. Judge Wallace having sus
tained the legality of the Grand Jury. which was
questioned. by sentencing Richard Chute proui
nent politician who refused TO answer subpoeua
to fine and Imprisonment the belief is becomin.
general that after all that body is determined IA
make record by indicting everybody high and
low, connected with city or State affairs against
whom sufficient evidence can be obtained. Should
this ne DONE it will be long time before Boss,
Buckley and his Democratic associates will dars
to return to their former haunts.
An interesting will was filed in the Oakland
Probate Court this week 1t is that of Florenc.
Hyde, in religion Sister Gertrude of the Sacred
Heart. The will makes a disposition of over
100000 which the deceased under certain con.
ditions would have owned, but which in reality
was not hers at the time of her death Sister
Gertrude was ;he second daughter OF Judge George
Hyde, first Alcalde of San Francisco. In 1868
Judge Hyde decided all Of his property to bis
wife, to be held by her during her lifetime at
her death 10 be divided among the five childreny
The bulk of the estate consists of real estate on
Market-st Ii is now worth between 81 100000
and $l,500,000. In August, 1890, Judge Hyde
died. Florence Hyde was educated in the Con-
vent OF the Sacred Heart in Oakland Sbe
graduated from the convent when she was eighteen
years old, and Immediately took the VOWS Of
the sisterhood She contracted consumption. and
made will last October, making large bequests
to Catholic institutions Twenty days after The
VIII was made Sister Gertrude was dead. Her
mother Mrs. HYDE is still living so the daughter
really did not own the estate of which she dis
posed. The charitable bequests in the will would
be void even were they not destroyed by the facts
of the case, for the document was made within
contested, for there are several side issues In
vOlved.
One gratifying effect of the California big whear
crop has been the lowering Of the prices OF
cement and coal in this market Never before
have these two necessary articles for which there
is at present an unprecedented demand. been 50
low. The certainty of obtaining lucrative wheat
charters from this port has had the effect u
of bapa nd
sequently it has caused low freights' 'to ruh from
European countries. Rather than send their
craft in ballast. English vessel-owaers have been
taking freight at almost any price. Extensive
building operations are now in progress here. and
The prices OF cement are about 90 per cent less
than o year ago. There are at present more cOal-
laden ships bound for San Francisco than ever
before known. while many more lsted 10 leave
Australian ports within the next thirty days.
IL is believed that the saving 10 CONSUMERS mis-
year on coal will amount to 81 100000 The
port supply of wheat Is expected to be 100000
TONS whlch Is a conservative estimate Enough
tonnage is i'll port and on the way here TO arrive
prior to December 81, TO carry away the entire
amount.
Property owners in the new Yosemite National
Park reservation assert that too much territory has
been reserved, ana that some townships are not
necessary Tor the preservation or the watershed or
the natural curiosltles. Their complaints nave
been SO loud that the Government has taken action
in the matter. Captain Wood with detau OF
now making a tour of the reservation. His In
tention is to investigate the mining Interests and
other private rights affected by the reservation
with the view of supplying necessary information
in case all effort il made to have the boundary
changed Forester Kelly will make an eXami
nation of the timber mountains IN the head waters
of San joaquin in order to ascertain II any addl'
tonal reservation is necessary for the preservation
of the water supply. The presence OF troops tns
year has prevented forest fires by keeping sheep
men out of the National Park Usually hIes
AuO1iSt NPDfpmbpr
there have been only two small fires.
To-day has been the occasion OF a notable eele'
bration in Chinatown, the Ming Nung Society ded-
eating it's new joss-houSe in Wavery Place las
handsome Oriental place Of pagan worship might
have been opened months ago, as IL was virtually
completed but, according TO Chinese superstl'
tion the day for the celebration had To he chosen
by religious f0rtunctellcr in China, or dlie
catastrophe would overtake the joss-house and AL
concerned. The requirements of this superstition
were complied with, and Celectial augur liked
Saturday, September 26 according 10 our calendar,
the day for the opening The new ioss-houss
is Of the finest three-story brick buildings IN
this city.
Active steps are being taken for the organiza-
tiOn of a dried frult exchange IN this state Inc
growers are becoming tired OF the way IN whlca
they are forced 10 lose the greater part OF their
profits in commissions 10 middlemen. and purpose
hereafter TO deal more directly with consumers
The raisn crop this year will fall short Of 1000.
600 boxes the figure set by some enthusiastic
experts On excellent authority it is learned that
Fresno County, which produces more than all ths
rest of the State will not send TO market ovei
100000 boxes The other counties will produce
about 500 900 boxes.
The first annual convention of the women
writers of the Pacific Coast, held In this city during
the last week, success nom every point VI
view. MANY women well known throughout tho
country as contributors to the periodical literature
of the day were present. The articles read ana
the addresses delivered were of more thaa
ephemcral Interest. An association was formed
which promises TO become literary force in the
West.
The opening exercises of the Stanford University
will take place at Paio Alto on October |. ALREADY
the names of 300 students have been enrolled.
There is every reason TO believe that within a
few years this great institution will take RANK
among the ltading centres of learning ot ths
world.