The morning call., 1893-04-23
OVER IN OAKLAND.
The New Ferry Line From
Emeryvilie.
MARRIED TO BECOME A WIDOW
Motermen and Conductors Form a
Union School Fees Raised-A
Farmland Kills Himself.

THE NEW FERRY.-F. NJ. Smith, the
millionaire "borax king" of Oakland was
seen last night in regard to the announce
ment that he had purchased the California
and Nevada NaTrow-gauge Railroad.
Mr.. Smith stated positively that he had
not purchased it, hut had made arrange
ments with the owners whereby he is to
transform it into a broad-gauge road, eX-
tend it 20 Walnut Creek and use it in con-
nection with a ferry which he is to build at
Emeryville. The ferry is sure, he said.
The purchase of the road is not. He is
acting individually in the matter of the
ferry.
Captain J. w. Smith, who owns the bonds
of the road, just as positively announced
that it has not been sold. He acknowl-
edged that he understood that ferry is TO
be built. Mr.. Emery, owner of the site Of
the proposed new ferry, said also that work
would begin at once On ferry, but that
the California and Nevada remains in the
hands OF lis old owners.
The statement that | have sold out"
said Captain Smith, lis no more true than
If you were to announce that have 500, 600
IN gold In my pockets now-and have only
50 cents"
Ex-Superintenden King of the road, who
has been acting as Captain Smiths agent in
all negotiations, stated that an attorney
named Scriyener of S19 Pine street, San
francisco. has been in the East trying to
sell Captain Smiths bonds and recently
returned without having done So These
bonds are placed in New York and Paris
and are well secured. Two million dollars
worth of property along the line has been
sold, and +. NJ Smith has been one of the
largest spectators in that direction. The
lanu mas been bought by a syndicate of
men whose names have not yet been made
known, but Mr.. Smith has been at the
head of the syndicate.
The building of the ferry, however. will
make gigantic change in the li:tle road
which has 30 long been useless and an in
cumbrance to the owners. 1t is announced,
though not on the authority of Mr.. Smith,
That the line ultimately will be extended To
Mojave, where it will be connected with the
Atchson, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad.
and that ii is TO became really part of that
system, thus making great overland COM
petIag road to Oakland, with a ferry from
Emeryyile to San Francisco. The pro-
Ject0rs of this, however, have not stated
where the San Francisco landing is to be.
But this eau be settled easily enough and
in the meantime attention will be given TO
local passenger traffic. In this connection
the veil has been lifted from the mystery
surrounding the Tweiftn-stTeet road and
II Is 10 become part of the new system.
1t is well known that Mr.. Smith has been
the power behind the throne of the Twelfth
street line. 1t viii be the object to make
central Oakland and all northern towns ad-
lacent, together with the two Bsrkeleys
and towns in Contra Costa County, more
easily accessible than they now are by the
numbering locals" of the Southern Pacific
1t will take away the glory of The company's
monopoly.
In regard to the ferry Mr. Emery, owner
OF the land, said that a Die-driver has been
dispatched to begin work within a fe " DAYS
Captain Smith said in regard 10 this that
he had been hired not 10 talk. II know
nothing about that" said lie, 'and have
nothing to do with it, bat you might watch,
Tor there may be ferry there. All know
Is my road has not been sold Don't eX-
aggerate. Now there are four men at work
IN lumber-yard there and somebody put a
cipher 10 the four and then said that forty
men were building a ferry. That was
exaggeratiOn. No work has been done, but
don't know, don't know-maybe some
will be done"
+. NJ. Smith said: "Work on the ferry
Will begin at once.
1T is the intention to build to Walnut
Creek. What Will be done later is for con-
slderation in the future.
There Is good chance to build UP fine
local traftlc along the line of the road. and
it no doubt can be done. At least an effort
Il have made no statements that have
purchased the road, but did say had made
arrangements to use it in connection with a
ferry. Statements that l confirmed the
report OF purchase are wrong"
a UNION OF ELECTRIC MEN.-The mo-
tormen and conductors of tie various cleo
trlc lines OF Oakland and Yirinity are about
10 organize a union. a benevolent organi-
zauon already exists, but il is not satsfac-
tory to all. not taking in tile Telegraph-aye-
nue. line, hence this new movement and All
tatl0n Tor union taking in all the roads.
mere Is no dlscontent among the men or
grievance against the companies at all the
wages and hours 0eng quite satisfactory
but general desire for an organization
looking 10 mutual protection and benevo-
lence. The roads have spread out so extern
slVely IN the past few years anu the town
grown so rapidly along the lines that MANY
cars are necessary, and, peTfOree, many men
are taken 10 operate them. For instance
the Oakland Consolidated road, with its %
miles OF track, operates "a cars and EN-
ploys 100 men; the Telegraph-aveuue line
has II miles OF track, IunS 10 cars and en-
DlOys 70 men the Consolidated Piedmont.
i miles OF track, ruus cars and EMPLOYS %
men; tie Oakland, San Leandro and Hay-
wards road has 20 miles Of track, runs 10
cars, and employs go men. and the Wander
coOk-Sessions line has s miles of road. runs
cars, and has 40 mon. Here are over 300
men employed as conductors and motCrmep.
ana they Ieei that an organization among
themselves would be TO their advantage In
many ways. Each car has two shifts of
men, or four TO a car, the day men wnr king
II hours and the night shift 7, with wages
at Il cents per hour. This is the case on all
the roads except the Telegraph-ayeuue line.
where the men receive % cents per hour
but their hours of work are so arranged that
the wages aggregate about the same as Oh
the other lines.
A DEATHBED MISUNDERSTANDING
Adrlen q. Chauche was married on his
deathbed in this city Friday night to Miss
Marie Elizabeth Bon, the sister of his part
ner IN an extensive liquor business in San
francisco. The bridegroom was native of
France and 80 years of age, while the bride
IS but 20. a native of California. The we'd
ding was to have taken place last Wednes-
day and tour TO Europe and the East was
contem plated, but for a week or ten days
past MIR. Chauche has been suffering from
what was supposed TO be a arrangement of
the liver but nothing of a fatal character
was anticipated in his ailment He had
been away from his business, however, ana
Il Few days ago pneumonia symptoms were
observed and the patient grew alarmingly
I'll. lie realized his condition and ordered
tne wedding FASTENED. The lady of his
choice was sent for and the wedding SOL
emnlZed at the dealhbed. The scene was
sad one as Rev. Father Audifred pro-
nouneed them man and wife, and the
groom alone seemed cheerful in performing
Inc last act of love-hfS last act on earth.
de had redeemed a promise. The bride
was cast oown utterly at the sudden and ia
tai termination of what had been a bright
dream OF q happy future
Mr.. Chauche was well known and highly
respected In the community and among all
classes. He leaves an estate valued at
more than 100000.
IMPROVEMENTS Town work is assum-
ing much activity at present. Sbattuck
avenue at East Berkeley and Center street
are being macadamized and severed and n
brick and concrete conduit to conduct
Straw berry Greek under Shattuck avenue ia
being constructed. Six months ago protest
was made By the university against
matchmaking Oxford street, but now. as
the legal limit of protest has expired and
Will not probably be re-entered, the work
Will be at once pushed
To RAISE THE FEE.-The towDspeople
are awakening 10 the fact that their nigh
school is, by its excellence and proximity
TO the university, being used largely by
outside students in preparation for the uni
V6rSitY, So muen has il Urown in ~ n ~ =.