The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-12
OPIUM WAS CHEAP.
Chinese Were Making 1t
Up the River.
United States Revenue Officers Make
a Partially Successful De-
scent on Their Plant.

United States revenue agents and the
spring floods have contributed to the dis
covery aud breaking up of a nest of opium
factories on the San Joaquin River. the
produce of which has flooded the San
Francisco market and reduced the price
on the sleep-ndueing drug 10 the starva-
ton notch.
For six months past the customs author
tiles at this Tort have been satisfied that
Chinese were engaged in manufacturing
the drug not far from the city. Com
plants from Chinese merchants were con-
stantly coming in that fye-tael tins of
opium were being hawBed about at 81 80 a
tin, the ruling price ordinarily being from
IS 30 to 50 for the same quantity.
Every effort was made to run the manu-
facturers to earth, but with little hope Of
success until short time ago, when il was
discovered that any quantity of charcoal
was being taken up the Sacramento and
San Joaquin rivers by steamers from this
port. The Investigation was pushed on
this line and several days ago Assistant
Internal Revenue Agent Thomas had sut-
hcient evidence in his possession to indi-
cate that the fac,Ories were located up the
San Joaquin.
In company with Special Agent Cavan
of the Treasury Department and Consta-
BILE Sweeney OF Contra Costa County,
Agent Thomas prepared to swoop down
and capture the viOlators of The law. They
proceeded 10 Antioch, and after a short
preparation chartered the steam launch
Stella. Captain Hand. and proceeded up
the river.
They made the voyage at night In the
hope CT catching the glow OF some of the
fires from the furnaces in the factories,
their first point being, however, Jersey
Landing, a small island in the stream.
They saw no telltale fires, and they reached
Jersey Landing to find il, however, nearly
covered with water. They dsembarked
aud made search. which was rewarded
by the finding of a good-siZed furnace and
some of the utensils of an opium factory,
ell among the tules of the river-brink. No
other evidences of the work. in the shape
OF Cinnamon, were visible.
Alter leaving the island search was
made further up the river, but the high
water was against anything like complete
ness, and the party returned to the city
Sunday evening empty handed.
Agent Thomas is satisfied, from the
scope OF his investigation and the amount
of cheap opium sold, that any number of
these factories have been in operation
until lately, and he was further satisfied
that the Chinese engaged In the business
were notified in some way or other OF his
intended visit and prepared themselves for
III Dy moving everything out OF the way.
The Ceiestials, the agent has doubts
have perfect chain of sentinels on the
river from Antio,a up TO mile or so. who
keep the sharpest kind OF lookout for
visiting strangers; and there is reason to
expect that at least one wealthy land
holder on the river has a strong personal
interest in locking after the welfare of
the manufacturers Of Illicit opium.
AT any rate. Agent Thomas is satisfied
now that the labors of the San Joaquin
Chinese in the opium way will cease for
the time being