The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-03-08
AROUND THE CORRIDORS.

One of the party of gentlemen who are in the
city in company with F. ID. Armour, the mil
lionaire packer OF Chicago, tells a good story
about a pamesake of Mr.. Armour's who holds
unique position in the big stockyards and
has acquired much renown. 1t is a seven-year-
old snow-white OK, weighing upward of 1000
pounds, and his sole occupation Is that OF de-
coying cattle 10 their death. Under the plans
in yogue for years II REQUIRED a regiment of
cowboys TO drive the cattle TO The killiDg-pens,
and aside from the work the old plan resulted
IN overheattng, exciting and bruising the cattle,
and or at many OF tbenl-and not a few
men-have been Injured or killed as result of
slampedes. Phil" the big steer, has Demon
strated that his fellows can more easily be LED
than driven. 1t was only after much labor and
pains that he was successfully trained to do
what was required OF him, but a result lie
now daily leads an average OF $500 head of
cattle from The pens in which the are confined
on arrival through The yards and streets TO the
slaughter-bOuse. Hundreds of visitors watch
his movements every day, and it is said of him
that never a recreant steer successfully breaks
away from his vigilant watchfulness.
During a trip recently made through Cuba
/ gained much valuable information as 10 the
conditions governing social and public life
there, with which 1 had never before been
sdIu ". l. warn Oh Ou1dnd, at the
Palace yesterday. 1.-The Government takes
great precautions to prevent any possible out
break among the disgs united elements. There
are many suspects who are under constant
surveillance, and who ale not even permitted
10 leave their homes in times OF doubt. The
Telephone and telegraph system OF the island
belongs to the Government. The former rvice
in almost all the country sections is managed
by the Civil Guard, and as there are stations at
intervals Of twenty miles all over the nd, ii
will be readily seen that that body is kept fully
posted as to the happenings in the various To-
calities. 1t means an absolute control of the
island and lis Inhabitants
"Tbe Market-street Railway Company might
find an interesting field for investigation ia the
recent invention OF Pennsylvania music
teacher named Vallo." said Z. w. Ross OF
Philadelphia yesterday. "Some months ago The
Metropolitan Traction Company offered
prize Of $4,000 to any one drvising better
system of stTeetcar propulsion than those at
present in use. and the one / speak OF IS among
the many which have resulted. 1t is claimed
for 1t that the cost OF operation will only be
about one-half or any other system. No elec-
tricity and no wires used, but the ears are
TO be run by a specially constructed motor
driy n by compressed air. A specially designed
airbrake is another feature OF the invention,
have been made and the practice bility OF the
new motor demonstrated not only on tile level
but upon steep grades"
Another lady correspondent has arrived In
the city for the purpose OF describing the at
fractions of the Midwinter Fair for The benefit
of Eastern readers Mrs. X. Blake Watkins,
who. under the nom de plume OF XII" in the
columns OF the Toronto Mail, has gained wide
celebrity. came down from Victoria on the
steamer Umatia yesterday. Two years ago
Ms. Watkins visited England, and sent back a
number of excellent letters containing remnis-
censes OF Charles Dickens. The work proved
so interesting that The Mall issued it in book
form. Mrs. Watkins is a graceful fluent and
faithful descriptive writer, and win probably
take trip TO either Japan or Hawaii prior to
returning TO Toronto. She is a guest at the
Grand.
John B. Drake. known the country over as
the proprietor of thP Grand Pacific Hotel in
Chicago Is at the Palace. Mr.. Drake has had
charge OF the hostery named for over twenty
years, and in that time has probably become as
well known as any hotel man in America. he
annual game dinners which b. gives TO from
500 10 500 of his friends are among The most
elaborate features Of that kind known In this or
any other county. The Grand Pacific has for
years been the headquarters for all the Repub-
lican leaders when political gathering is held
in Chicago. Mr.. Drake says los Chlcagoans
were at The Coronado Hotel in one day last
week; that1he southern portion OF the State Is
full of people, and that they are all coming to
San Francisco.
5. 4. Essex, who is connected with ST. Louis
hrm OF contractors which recently secured
contract for constructing a Sl,500,O0Q draw
bridge and belt railway IN 81. Paul, Mimi, is In
"a w Ia m
ST. Paul, six miles from the city, and will be-
opei ated by The Burlington, the Milwaukee
and ST. Paul and the Chicago aud Kansas City
railways. 1t VIII be 22oo feet In length. with
four 15o-foot spans and draw span of $50
feet and will afford a direct entrance TO the
packing districts OF ST. Paul.
Pennsylvania is usually looked upon as one
OF the most successful agricultural States in
the UnioD." said B. 4. Little. Reading (Pa.)
promoter, at the Palace yesterday. "However,