New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-10-14
TOPICS IN CALIFORNIA.
SEEKING AN ALASKAN ELDORADO-
WHEAT DEAII-A TARIFF
LESSON.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBryH.l


San Francisco. Oct 13.-The folly Of men with
out means going 10 Alaska in search Of gold is
practically illustrated on the arrival of nearly
every steamer from the Far North. On Mon
day night the revenue cutter Corwn brought
down five destitute miners who had been work
ing at Forty Mile Creek near the headwatcrs
of the Yukon for nearly two years They
could not earn enough in the short working
season to pay their bills the supply store
maintained on the Yukon by a transportation
company. At last the company decided that 1t
cheaper TO ship them home than to feed
them through another winter. Forty more
destitute have arrived. or are coming on
other steamers from the same region. Flour
there sells for $40 hundred pounds. and bacon
$50 a hundred. And still the stories Of such
places tempt new crowds Of prospectors into this
forbidding cline every year
There are 100000 tons Of May wheat at Port
Costa, held at the expense OF a mysterious syn
dictate Of San Francscans. who droI ped a heavy
sum in the big local wheat deal begun In June
last. Money is always promptly put 10
meet the heavy charges on this wheat, but no
knows where it comes from The popular
belief is that James G. Fair allowed himself to be
drawn into this speculation. probably with a
few other big capitalists and that they have
lost on II. all told. abou; 81 100000
The affairs of the big Fresno raisin combine.
which was looked 10 the only hope Of saliva
ton the growers had. are In bad shape. one
powerful faction. with $50 stockholders has
withdrawn. alleging publicly that the combines
methods dishonest and fraudulent and de-
vised help the packers to prof; at the expense-i
of the growers 1t is charged that the com
bine has cut prices and sold under the schedule
that goods previously sold might be de-
lvered The packers, II is asserted. have been !
',sng the goods IF customers to fight outsiders !
who cutting prices. thus making the Gus |
toners bear the loss while the packers clear !
sure return Of from 1000 to $4,000 In pack /
ing The honesty Of the combines inspection |
of goods Is also questioned.
California prune- growers are feeling the effects
of the new tariff law most seriously. The crop
of 1894 is $4,000, 600 pounds. a little over half |
that Of last year but owing TO the reduction
of the duty. foreign prdnes have come In and
hammered prices to less than the figures OBJ
tanned for the big crop Of 1888 Il Is estimated
that the difference made by the tariff 10 the
California prunegrowers detriment equals the
railway charges on the product from here to
New-York. 81 20 a hundred In consequence. the
political agents in the field report marked In
crease in the drift toward Republicanism and
Protection throughout the horticultural area Of
the State
With the approach Of winter comes a notice
able increase of such crimes as stage-robbing in
the remoter parts Of the State three hold ups
having been reported from Northern California
IN week. One Of them. in Siskiyou County.
showed traces OF the most famous road agent
California has known in recent years on the
road near the scene found an envelope with
q bit of doggere on II. signed Black Bart" The
celebrated highwayman who styled himself thus
was released from the State prison some time
ago, and II has been supposed that he was some
where in Michigan.
The military post at the Preside is undergoing |
improvements which VIII make II no longer !
for troops to be housed In tents a !
spectacle which recently has caused much crit
cism among civilians. Several brick barrack
buildings are In course Of erection and are CON
empla ted. as well large riding hall Ike
hose at the other important posts throughout
he country.
The suit against eX-Congressman John T Cut
ing by his wife. reported from New-York by q
telegraph. has made much talk here. Mrs Cut O
Ing was Miss Christine Luhrs. daughter Of an
I'D. wealthy and reputable merchant. Cutting | !,
hen Congressman and Brigadier- General in h