New-York tribune., 1894-04-22
TOPICS IN CALIFORNIA.
"A PROLONGED DROUTH-BANK 1NNESTl-
GATION-SOCIAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.
mi


GATION-SOCIAL AND MUSICAL NOTES.
lDY TELEGRAPH TO TIE fRIDuNE]
San Francisco. April 2l.-If the California
farmer believes in prayer he doubtless puts up
petitions for rain in these days. for this year
has already broken the States record for drouth
in March and April Since March there has
been practically rainfall throughout the state,
while the temperature has been remarkably high.
The result has been to burn up the pasturage,
and to force into premature maturity barley
and wheat in the great interior valleys Thou
sands Of acres of barley have headed out at
four or six inches from the ground and the
grain is scarcely fit for sheep food. The pros
poets good for rain tonight. but as twice be-
fore storms have passed by California. the
weather sharps have become wary of predicting
any rainfall.
The Bank Commissioners this week began an
investigation Of the Peoples Home Savings
Bank, which was dragged down by the failure
Of the Pacific Bank. Although the Peoples Home
has done no business for six months. the men in
charge have paid more for salaries than in
similar period when its doors were open These
and other facts led the Bank Commissioners to
depose young Richard II. Mcdonald. The latter
actually engaged in the business Of buying up
depositors' accounts at 40 cents on the dollar,
and then getting par from the bank as favored
claims. Certain large depOsitors have been al
lowed to take gilt-edge mortgages. The result
is that the withdrawal of the best securities
there will be so great a shrinkage in assets that
small depositors will realize very little one of
the assets is San Luis ObispO land. which was
given by old DR.. Mcdonald for a loan of Sl56,OOO
This land to-day won't bring more than $4,000.
The old doctor. who is now in New-York. has
,b, With ba
but he shows no inclination to make good this
deficit
The story of defective armor plate turned out
by the Carnegie Company for the Pacific Coast
vessels Monterey and Oregon created sensa-
tion here. The general opinion. especially
among experts. is that the Navy Department
should dock the vessels and settle by actual
test whether John McLucke is telling the truth
1t would be a good thing. also. if the Secretary
of the Navy would overhaul the present inspec-
ton system, as it is practically worthless.
The charge that Collector John II. Wise. of
San Francisco, is an importer Of sheep dip" has
been revived again. There is good evidence that
he orders this article direct from an English
manufacturer. and that 1t comes addressed to his
firm, but the Collector has evaded the charge by
asserting that the dip is consigned to a local
broker. who pays the duties and then sells It to
Wise This explanation satisfied Mr.. Cleveland.
but it is doubtful whether IL will satisfy him
The North American Navigation Company
ended its checkered career this week. Its steam
ers have been taken by the Panama Railroad.
but the active opposition which the defunct
company has given TO the Pacific Mail is ended.
tTeights have been advanced s. ton by the
Pacific Mail. but there is small prospect that
they will be put any higher The Panama Rail-
road carries only through freight TO the Isthmus
Central American merchants complain bitterly OF
the advance in rates, but they get sympathy,
as they wouldn't subscribe one dollar toward the
support OF the North American Company.
The Midwinter Fair drew large crowds this
week on the three days devoted to the Mardi
Gras exercises. but the attempt TO introduce here
the New-Orleans spectacle was dead failure
1t was private enterprise. devised solely 10
make money, and lacked all the gayety and
cnarm OF the Louisiana festival.
The chief social affair of the week was the
reception given to Mr. and Mrs. Whitelaw Reid
by Colonel Charles Crocker and Mrs. Easton at
the COloners handsome house at LeavenWorth
and Pine SITS. \ breakfast was given by Mrs.
Isaac Requa at her home on Piedmont Heights
across the bay to Princess CoOnna and Princess
Hatzfeldt. The floral decorations were unique
and striking.
The ladies OF Sequoia Chapter. Daughters Of
the American Revolution. this week planted a
liberty tree in soil from one hundred and fifty
battefelds Of the Seven Years War to COM
memorate the battle Of Lexington. Mrs A. H.
Hubbard. wife of the founder of the Sons Of the
American Revolution, organized this scheme and
contributions were received from all parts of the
country. The exercises were impressive. The
Liberty Tree a young sequoia from the
Sierras which was planted in Conservatory Val
ley, Golden Gate Park.
The performance Of Leoncavalo's opera II
Pagliacci," by the Conried company at the Bald
win Theatre made hit this week and IT was
repeated.
Modjeska promises to have large audiences
next week, when she gives "Magda" at the
Baldwin
Sandow made a big impression upon the small
audience of doctors and newspaper men who
attended his first private reception. AT the
Vienna Prater at the Mdwinter Fair he has
drawn good audiences but not large as was