davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning call., 1893-06-01
A GREAT BRIDGE.

On the oath Of May, when flags were dis
played profusely on the Brooklyn bridge.
people inquired what the occasion for
commemoration was, and seemed to take
1t very much as a matter of no conSe-
Quence that iJ was the celebration of the
opening of this magnificent structure ten
years previously. This is an age in which
the engineers trumphs are SO numerous
that even an achievement of this stupen-
dous magnitude passes into the ordinary
category of common place deed in the pub
lie mind. Yet the structure is still with
out rival in grace, strength and daring
on the plan followed, and only another
bridge of very different character can be
put in com parison for bold engineering
conception-the railway spans over the
Forth in Scotland. The latter would not
have bee undertaken without steel as the
structural material. The Brooklyn bridge
was designed and commenced in 1870
while lion was still the main reliance of
the engineer. We can form an opinion of
the need of this viaduct between New
York and Brooklyn. with its two lines of
rails, its double road for vehicles and its
broad promenade, by glance at the traffic.
The passengers who have travelled by the
railroad in those ten years number $780,
100000. They all crossed without acct
dent; surely brilliant record of safety
The pedestrians, up to 1891, when the
promenade was made free, numbered 2S,-
1889. Railway journeys are so frequent
between the two cities that it is calculated
altogether distance of 5000, 600 miles has
been run. No more train capacity is pos
sible until additional accommodations is
provided at the terminal stations, and this
work is now in progress. Exigencies of
traffic are so vast in the metropolitan city
that ten years hence it may be advisable to
expend fifteen or twenty million dollars in
providing another bridge. The engineer
ing may be easier to-day, but the cost is
not lessened probably. The solution of
rapid transit in New York may lead to the
New York Central being empowered 10 lay
tracks TO the foot Of the city underground,
with ample accommodation at way sta
tions and the terminus. AS part of this
extension it would be a great step to have
direct connection with bridge across the
East River.
The morning call., 1893-06-01
EXHIBITION TROUBLES.

The Chicago Tribune indorses as truth
the comments of a New York contempt
rary on the trouble which has arisen in
the management of the fair through the
interference of the National Commission.
1t berates the National Commission as
national nuisance. This is very much too
severe. inasmuch as all this body concerns
itself with is advice about the manage
ment of affairs in Jackson Park. and the
country generally is not affected by its
proceedings. AS Chicago invoked the as
sistance of Congress for an appropriation
and as taxation and representation should
go together, it was necessary that some
representatives should be appointed. Had
this assistance been dispensed with then
Chicago could have set about its great
task in its own way untrammeled by ex-
traneous counsel. 1t is now unavailing to
indulge in regrets. Tie fair is open and
is so successful that harmony in every de-
partment should be possible. Chickering's
are foolish at this stage. 1t must be ad-
mitted that the directors chosen by the
stockholders of the Exhibition Company
are a very different class of men. pecu-
liarly well qualified for their duties. to
those who have been appointed on the Ma
tiOnal Commission Capacity and fitness
were studied in the one case. quite ire
spective of politics, while in the other po-
litical Influences could not be eliminated.
The President chose some members and
the others were appointed by the Gov
errors of States and Territories. The
Governors were each empowered to select
two men, one a Republican and the other
a Democrat, and naturally most of them
have given some consideration to the
principle Of friendship in politics. In the
performance Of such duties a Commits
Siouer has no business to give politics
thought. but it is alleged that some men,
bers as soon as they settled down to work
made inquiries about patronage for their
States. The Tribune urges that they
should have consented TO play the part OF
figureheads. But they evidently came 10
the conclusion that if they could not be
useful they would play poor ornamental
role, and a clash of authority arose. In
one respect the Commissi toner's have been
njndicious. Mr.. Tbacher of New York
has propounded a system of awards which
has aroused the resentment of the foreign
commissions and they have Withdrawn
their exhibits from competition. Luckily
the exhibits remain in the exhibition. and
so the public will not be robbed of the in
struction or pleasure they convey. There
is. however. something radically wrong in
a method of awards by one man and not a
jury, which can prompt sixteen for eign
Commissioners to a unanimous action in
Withdrawing. Medals, If presented at all,
should mean that they have been won
by merit, not that they have been dis
tributed like toys one to every child in
school,
The morning call., 1893-06-01
OPEN TO ALL.

The Sacramento Record Union quotes
passages from recent editorial in THE
CALL and comm ents upon them in a way
TO convey the idea that THE CALL is OPP
posed TO a railroad between Los Angeles
and Fresno or other San Joaquin city.
The Record Union says:
II San Francisco has right to reach ont by
railroads into The heart of The san Joaquin Val
ley for trade, Los Angeles has an equal right.
Why should either city deny to the other this
right?
The CALL certainly does not deny such
right. III the article from which quota
lions are made we said that Los Angeles
would reach as far north as it could with
profit and San Francisco would reach as
far south as it could with profit. 1t is evil
IDENTIFY better for the people in the stretch
of country between the two cities that
there should be com petition for them both,
But The CALL did say that railroad
between Fresno and Los Angeles would
not serve the people of the San
Joaquin Valley so we'll as a road
between Stockton and Bakersfield and
its water connection with San Fran
cisco. Why? AT present, and 1or some
time to come, Los Angeles will be de-
pendent upon transcontipental roads that
may conspire to keep up freight rates for
goods from the East and Europe. San
Francisco will get goods from all ports by
water, and will thus be Independent of
railroad combinations. La turn Los An-
geles may become distributing point for
goods brought to the port by the North
American line. But Los Angeles must
wait for a harbor. Under present eondi-
tons 1t is dependent on the railroads.
Should Los Angeles obtain a harbor that
is not under the control of any railroad
company she may become a great seaport.
The time will come when an area extend
ing 100 miles from seaport will give it a
larger trade than the whole coast now af-
fords. Let US get our local system in
readiness for this larger population. Los
Angeles and San Francisco are 500 miles
apart and Monterey lies between. The
more seaports that serve point for distri-
button the better for the Interior. The
only suggestion we make is that we dc
our first work where it will do the most
uODd
The morning call., 1893-06-01
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF STATE HARBOR
~ commissioners, 10 California ST. San Fran.
cisco. Cal. May %, 1893.
Sealed proposals or bids will be received at III ia
once az or prior TO O'Clock P. NJ. on TUESDAY
June q. 1898. for furnishing the cement to be used
III the construction of the foundations OF the an
proach to ferry slips Nos 2 3. 4. 8 ana at the
loot OF Market ST.. on the water front of the CITY
ana county OF San Francisco, in accordance with
specifications prepared therefor by the chief en-
80 1888, TO which special reference is hereby
made. Three separate and distinct proposals will
he received, 20 be esgnated respectively Lot No
l. Lot No. 2. Lot No 3, each to be made on differ-
ent blanks for about 1890 barrels, the total
amount of the three bids aggregating about 40 900
barrels.
No bid will be received unless it is made on a
blank form furnished from this once and is &C.
companied by certified check for per cent of
the amount of the bid, payable to ths order of the
of the successful bidder that he Will, within six
days after the acceptance of his bid, enter into
written contract TO do said work according to the
specifications prepared therefor. and will also
execute and file with this board good and suf-
fcent bond. to be approved by said board. in such
amount as ii shall direct and conditioned for the
faithful performance of such contract; nor will
said bid be considered by this board unless de-
HYered to the secretary or to the assistant
tary. at he office of the secretary, at prior 20
O'Clock P. NJ. on tuesday June b. 1898, at which
place the bids will be opened.
The board reserves the right to reject any
all bids if deemed for the best interests of the
State
Bidders are invited to be present at the opening
OF the bids C. +. BASSETT,
II. BROWN,
DAN T. COLE
Board of State Harbor Commissioners
HOWARD C. HOLMES. Chief Engineer
j. j. KEEGAN Secretary my25 IOt
The morning call., 1893-06-01
ELLERT MUST SHOW CAUSE.
Injunction Proceedings Filed by the
Omnibus Company.


The Injunction proceedings in the mat
ter of the erection of electric poles on Mar
ket street by the Omnibus Gable Company
were to have come up in Judge CARRIERS
court yesterday, but the attorneys for the
company did not appear until the after
noon.
Then, after consultation, it was decided
on the part of the company to file an ap-
plication for an injunction restraining
Mayor Ebert from interfering with the
progress of the work.
This was done and yesterday afternoon
injunction papers were filed on behalf of
the company by Lloyd & Wood, attorneys
The application set forth the his tory o (
the Mission and North Beach Railway
since its first franchise was granted III
November, 1879, up to May 26 Of this year,
when the Omnibus Cable Company entered
into possession of portion of it and de-
Gliding to substitute electricity for horses
and cable as motive power proc eeded to
plant electric poles on Market street from
Eighth street to the ferry when they were
so perem ptorly ordered 10 desist.
The application further stated that
there were not less than 300 electric street.
railways in 200 of the principal cities If
the United States aud that with two eX-
ceptlons all were constructed under the
trolley system. An order was therefore
prayed for directing Mayor Ebert, Super
intendent of Streets w. Ackerson and
Chief of Police Crowley from forclbly or
otherwise Interfering and refusing 10 per-
nit the work 10 proceed.
Judge CARRIER, after reading the COM
plant, issued an order TO show cause, re-
turnable June 8.
The morning call., 1893-06-01
MINISTER BLOUNT.

When Minister Blount was silent the
people of the Hawaiian Islands wished he
would speak; now that he has spoken they
wish that he had remained silent. Min
lister Bount had rather delicate task be-
fore him, as he was instructed apparently
TO divert the public mind from annexation
to the United States. He was little more
discreet than well-known newspaper
correspondent who wrote a letter on the
voyage out descriptive Of the political con-
dltions OF the country he was about 10
visit. La both cases the person sent to spy
out the land carried cautious instruc-
lions, but doubtless in both cases these
were instructions not intended for the
public. 1t is rather unfortunate that Min
lister Blounts first official act should have
been to protect correspondent who had
made somewhat Incorporate attack upon
the existing government.
The morning call., 1893-06-01
FIGURES OF STRAW.

A good many of our Eastern con-
temporaries are constructing figures OF
straw for the apparent purpose Of knock
ing them down. Perhaps one of the most
remarkable of these figures was cou-
structed by the Pttsburg Despatch. That
journal estimated the number of Chinese
in the country at 10000 and the cost OF
deporting each at 500. The Despatch
then found an imposing figure, which ii
labeled with the sign $4,000 900. This
was the amount of money the people OF
the Pacific Coast wanted the Government
to expend in Transporting needed labor out
the country. OF course, the stuffed figure
was easily knocked over. The effort may
have cost the Despatch little physical
perspiration, but apparently no compunc-
ton of conscience.
The morning call., 1893-06-01
THE MINING PROBLEM.

The Cousa Sun. Suffer INDEPENDENT.
Chico Enterprise and other interior jour
nails, fercey criticize the attitude of
San Francisco in respect to the filing I'D of
the rivers by hydraulic miuing. The In
dependent says:
The spectacle of a great commercial city,
such as San Francisco claims to be and ought
TO be- c0nsenting to and even aiding In the de.
structIon of its only natural artery Of interior
commerce is indeed astounding" a
A city that boasts OF everything which goes 20
make up the highest civilization has not pro-
duced one man brOad-minded and courageous
enough 10 call a halt in this work OF destruc-
ton. or having the Will or ability TO 20 before
Congress and persisently demand that the
Government shall atone for former neglect and
injustice 1t was left for the dark-eyed little
Latin-Caliiornian from the mountains of ANA
DOR Congressman Camnetil, to make the only
persistent effort made by any California Con-
gresham Tor the permanent Improvement of
San francisco's only natural interior feeder
ana distributor Shame on such a city.
The apathy of San Francisco in respect
TO the filling up Of the rivers arises from
It's extreme liberation of views entirely
opposite TO its own. The San Francisco
opinion OF the hydraulic mining region is
mat 1t would be better for the State if
there was not the color OF gold in the
Sierra Nevada range. Admitting that the
mines are as rich as has been estimated,
there is not gold enough in them to COM
psnsate for the injury the working of them
by the hydraulic process must eventually
do. But the problem is one that cannot be
solved by theorizIng Mining engineers of
good standing assure US that the work of
m n In ha bal ,,,it
out great harm to the rivers under certain
specified conditions Others advise that
the work may 60 on without restraint by
imposing tax on the gold taken out. to
be used in conveying debris to the swamp
land. Other people, who doubtless mean
well. are confident that this S1,000,-
100000 supposed to lie in the foot
hills should be taken out anyway. THE
CALL has had contrib utors who propose To
solve the silver problem by making gold
so plentiful that it will drop to its
old ratio with silver. In the multiplicity
of these opinions San Francisco does not
know exactly what to do. The city does
not want to suppress any industry that
may be conducted without material harm
TO other industries. There is much differ
ence of opinion in respect to the workings
of the Caminetti act from which the hide
pendent expects so much. That act pro-
poses to permit hydraulic mining in loca-
tions and under conditions which COM
mission Of army engineers shall recon-
mend. But II the system of dams which
the engineers are to design should prove
inadequate in few years. what redress
would the rivers and the city have? The
Caminetti act proposes to dredge out the
The morning call., 1893-06-01

on their own account. This good work is
undertaken Ly the State Board OF Horti,
culture. Another example OF tools lound
by man to assist his designs in procuring
food NAV he cited in the muskaloDge of
Lake Chautauqua, large consignment OF
which has been liberated in lakes MERGED
and Pilarcitos. They are good hsh thenl-
selves and game for the angler, Dut one
excellent use they will serve If they get ria
of the carp in MERGED. Carp have got
very bad name, and can be spared II eX-
terminated.
Cordite, the smokeless powder which has
been adopted for the British army, Is 10
be manufactured in India. At first 1t was
thought to be only possible of manufacture
in the hills, but it has now been demon
strated that there is no increased danger
on the plains. Ii consists of nitro-gela tine
and a special quality OF guncotton. with
little camphor, and no hindrance to its
production exists In California, unless 1t
be knowledge of the process. AS II Is
insoluble in water it has advantages Tor
the sportsman as we'll as the soldier
The experiment of sending hay to
Europe is being tried for the first time.
Evidently France and England have a
scarcity of fodder owing to drought, and
if this shipment from Baltimore is found
bic, further orders will be placed. 1t
is not, however. an 0pening in trade either
permanent or desirable. Feed can be
more economically used in fattening stock.
and shipping the product abroad either on
the hoof or in the carcass. This year is
quite exceptional in Europe Pasture and
seed grasses have almost proved total
failure from want of rain. Prices VIII
therefore rule high for feed, and Ameri-
can agriculturists may find considerable
profit in the foreign market.
A new steamer has sailed from the
Tyne for the United States with her
furna aces fitted to consume petroleum. 1t
is said to be the first vessel which has at
tempted to make so long voyage with
liquid fuel Success would mean an ex-
tensive introduction of the system, and
might result in some regions, destitute of
coal but Astounding in petroleum, in COM
pie ely changing their industrial and ship
ping status for the better.
The morning call., 1893-06-01
RAILROAD FRANCHISES.
important decision has been reached

An important decision has been reached
In Brooklyn on the question of street rail-
road franchises. The Union Railroad
Company OF that city offered $4,000
year ago for franchise on Union street,
and for some not inexplcable but never
theless indefensble reason the Board OF
Aldermen generously decided not to accept
the money or demand more, but gave the
franchise for nothing. This was too much
tor tile public. An action was brought to
condemn the franchise as fraudulent and
collusive, and judgment has been pro-
noUnced by Judge Cullen of the Supreme
Court in support of this contention. The
court held that the bare recital of the facts
without any express proof of corruption
was sufficient TO establish fraud. 1t laid
down this general proposition: III the
object is to favor particular individual or
corporation to the pecuniary injury OF the
city that is fraud. While there is no evi-
dence of corruption l am clear that the in
tentlon was to favor the Union Railroad
Company on account of the persons inter-
ested in it to the pecuniary injury OF the
city, and that the action was had in bad
faith and collusive." Brooklyn is said to
be in great need of this sort OF law, and
doubtless other cities would appreciate
like-minded perspicacity and rectitude
from their justiciary. The franchise is set
aside, and now the Union Company is re-
newing its offer of $4,000. The Alder
men can only submit gracefully to the ac-
ceptance of this payment for valuable
privilege
The morning call., 1893-06-01
A DEMOCRATIC VIEW OF THE
GEARY ACT.
The st. Louis Republic SAYS:

The st. Louis Republic says:
1t might be supposed that the court had COM
pletely overthrown The civil war amendments.
but 1t must be remembered that ii is a tribunal
OF politics rather than OF equity, and that its
decisions in the case of Chlnaman would not
necessarily bind 1t in the case of negro.
The decision of the Supreme Court in the
case of an alien would not necessarily bind
the court in the case Of native, whether
white or colored. 1t is generally admitted
that nations have a right TO exclude un-
desirable immigrants. but the deportation
OF natives, except as a punishment for
crimes. is relic of barbarism. person
has right to live somewhere, and if he
may be rejected as an Immigrant what is
to become of him when elected as a ma
tive. 1n recognition of the right of ma
tionalitv the right of natives of Chinese
parentage to remain is not questioned.
Such persons may or may not be desirable,
but they are here and have right to stay.
The morning call., 1893-06-01
BRITISH ADVICE TO CHINA.

The London Times advises China to
place a restraint upon it's temper. 1t as
sumes that there will be but three Chinese
deported under the Geary act, and that the
Government of China will 90 we'll not to
consider the number sufficient to warrant
protest Unless the Times is in the con.
fidence of Mr.. Cleveland, its ground for
assuming that but three Chinese will be
deported is hardly 10 be depended upon.
When Congress meets an appropriation
may be made, which will deprive the adj
ministration of its present excuse for not
enforcing the law. 1t is already plain
that, while The present Congress is Demo-
cratic by large majority, it is not going
to take the law from the President. On
the silver question there is certain to be a
collision. By September there will be so
little gold in the treasury that to avoid
silver payment Congress will be required
to provide for stock Of gold. The Presi-
dent cannot turn the gold into the treas
ury by any treasury order. There must
be legislation, and up to the present time
Congress has had some say as to what laws
should be enacted. Careful readers of
American history have been impressed
with the watchfulness with which Con-
gress has guarded the powers given it by
the constitution. No President has been
great enough to stand long between Con-
gress and the exercise of its just power.
1t is not at all likely that Mr.. Cleveland
will establish precedent in this respect
He appears to have the instincts of an
aulocrat, but has only shown the ability
to be an everyday President. at all times
seeking inspiration from the organic law
of tie land. II Congress, Democratic as it
now is. should get the idea that the Presi-
The morning call., 1893-06-01
STRAWS SHOW THE WAY THE
WIND BLOWS.

Not long since President Cleveland re-
moved Mr. William Ellery Curtis. Chief OF
the Bureau of American Republics, from
office. In a general way the offense of
Mr.. Curtis consisted in his intimate ac-
qualntance with the political and economic
conditions of the nations of Central and
South America. But the knowledge of
Central and South American affairs hich
Mr.. Curtis possessed might not have been
considered fatal disqua iication ii he had
not shown disposition to let merchants
engaged in the southern trade profit by
it. 1t was Mr. Curtis especial misfortune
The morning call., 1893-06-01
NOT A LEGAL VERDICT.
Juries Cannot Strike Averages to
Decide Questions of Damages.

OeClue questions OF damages.
The Supreme Court yesterday reversed
the decision of the Superior Court in the
case of Katie E. Dixon VS.. William j.
Pluns.
This was a suit in which the plaintiff
obtained $71S damages against Pluns for
injuries received from chisel which Pluns
carelessly let fal. from a scaffolding on
Eddy street. Oh May 10, 1890.
After the yerd CT had been duly rec corded
it leaked out that the amount of the dam
ages had been decided upon in way that
was not strictly legal. One of the jurors
WAS interrogated and made an affidavit
stating that each juryman had his own
idea of what the injuries received by Miss
Dixon we're worth, and as they could not
agree upon a fixed sum IL was decided that
each juror should write upon a slip of
paper what damages he wished to accord,
and that these slips of paper were taken
and the amounts added together, the sum
total being divided by twelve, giving a
resi- lt of Sis.
This statement formed the basis of an
appeal to the Supreme Court, on the
ground that the verdict was arrived at by
chance and was therefore i'll egal. This was
the view taken by the Supreme Court, and
a decision reversing the verdict of the
lower court was filed yesterday.
The morning call., 1893-06-01

to issue a volume of reports just about a
time when the edict had gone forth that
reciprocity was a fraud and sham. If
we remember right our local Democratic
contemporary made use of some figures
which had been given out in support OF the
fraud and sham theory. The report of
Mr.. Curtis showed that nothing falsifies
like figures in the hands of a falsiier. and
the powers that be Immediately deprived
him OF his official head