The morning call., 1892-09-09

large showcases nlleQ with valuable ana ln-
teresting documents. books, letters and
pictures. The walls above the eases are
lined with pictures OF our early city off,
cials. military dignitaries and historic
events OF interest to our city. There Is
valuable collection Of battle flags sent by
General Ruger and IN the railroad annex
an interesting array Of trophy guns Of the
Mexican war sent BY General Ruger, with
the approval of the Secretary of State.
There is q large and very beautiful picture
of our really magnificent City Hall that
leads one to feel inclined to forget all the
jobbsry that turks about that mighty mod
ern ruin If it will ever assume the proper
tons and appearance attributed to IL In the
picture. There is long row OF fine pictures
of all the Mayors who from time to time
have presided over the cify's Councils and
a collection of relics that If gathered within
the city as a permanent exhibit would prove
q lasting attraction.
Among the relics of the early educational
movement in San Francisco is the original
ordinance, adopted September H. 1851.
establishing q system OF common schools,
and a number of school reports and CON-
piatiOns OF ealy statistics, including the
first report of j. Q. Pelton, showing the
number of children in attendance on the
public school established by the Ayuenta-
miento in the Baptist Church in 1850. This
document is dated May /, 1850, and reads:
To the Honorable Avlntdmiento Of San Fran.
cisco-GENTLEMFN: 1 have the honor. 10 ac-
cordance with an ordinance passed by the
Council April IA. to report to your honorable
body that since April l have admitted into
the public school 107 scholars.
The regular attendance at no time has been
less than rs or more than 100.
have the pleasure TO report the school to be
prosperous In every respect and daily improy-
Ing Your most obedient servant.
j. Z. PELToN, Teacher.
There is neat canvas-bound volume OF
the minutes of the proceedings of the legis-
lative Assembly of the district of San Fran
cisco from March r. 1912, to June 4, 1S49,
and a record OF the proceedings of the Ayun-
tamiento. or Town Council of San Fran
cisco, from August 8, 1919, to May 8. 1850.
Beside it lies a notable order by which
the Board of Aldermen in November, 1850,
authorized the issuance by the Comptroller
OF city script TO the amount OF 100000
bearing an interest of per cent per
month. and payable $50 days after date, or
out of the first moneys borrowed by the
commissioners of the sinking fund"
The original papers are shown in the first
suit ever commenced in San Francisco, being
an action brought in the court Of First Jurs-
dicton. by the Russian American Company,
to attach certain property OF John A. Sut-
ter, who then resided in the little town of
Helvetia. The files show number of in-
teresting papers signed by Washington
Bartlett, Governor Kearny and Others
Another interesting document Is Pc
tition against bull-fghting, dated May II.
1oOU, S6LiiDg IOilH tudt a Olltuo ndu DctH
established within the city limits ana that
on the evening OF the 10th certain per-
sons in said circus, for sport and diversion.
beat, wounded, tortured and finally killed
three bulls, and for no other purpose ex-
cent the diSgraceful one of gain by exhibit
ing the death agonieS OF the Door dumb
bruteS to the savage gaze OF brutes that
were not dumb" The petition called at
tention to the notable tendency OF such
scenes to disturb The peace and bring
obloquy on the city permitting them.
1t was signed by James Langdon. James
Van Ness, William Hattie. Morgan Dyer,
W f. Franklin, William Pickett. w. H.
Percy. J ohn II. Gibson.
There is also very important document
in the shape of areport Of the city Census
Marshal for 1852. showing q total popula-
ton of 17,153, and many interesting topo-
graphical facts. In it the marshal states
that he was early obliged to abandon the
effort to make one portion Of his report COM
plete sowing to the great Discrimination Of
many individuals to make public any state
ment Of their pecuniary condition"
There is q very Interesting exhibit of
photographs showing the rise and progress
of the San Francisco Postoffice from the
early days when everybody helped to dis
tribute mail, TO the present. The collection
contains photograph OF Timothy Mah0ny,
who in 1857 was the first and only penny
postman in the city duly authorized and
fees, cents for each letter and cents on
each newspaper or circular.
The relics speak eloQuently OF the social
side of life in the days OF 40. There Is a
satin dress owned by tho wife OF one OF the
first Councilmen of San Francisco, and
worn bv her at the grand ball given In honor
of the admission OF California to the Union
in 1850. The gown Is In color what Is now
called "old gold" buttoned in the back, full
on the shoulders and gathered TO fine pleats
al the front of the waist. 1t has long. tight
sleeves, with a shorter. full sleeve laced
over it from shoulder to elbow. Ii is
trimmed down the front with rosettes of the
S itin, and looks not unlike modern froeks,
The wife Of the early Councilman must
have made brave showing at the ball
Near II are a couple of embroidered silk
shawls bought at Leidesdorff's store in
Yerba Buena In 1916 for Mrs. James
Murphy, now residing near Miipitss. The
price paid for them is not STATED, but it
must have been pretty penny judging
from the price Of japanese scarf near
them bought in 1850 at San Francisco as a
wedding gift for his bride by John M.
Murphy, who paid for it $500 in gold
dust. The Murphy party, 1t will be remem-
bered, was one OF the first emigrRnt parties
to ascend tho summit OF the Sierras, which
they did in 1914, and came to California.
The only relic at present here from the
Mission Dolores is the old wooden cross
that has stood on the altar since 1776, and is
supposed to be 40 years old. A couple of
boxes of treasures were forwarded from
the city five days age, but have not yet ap-
peared.