New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-18
TOPICS IN CALIFORNIA.
THE DEATH OF FRANK P1XLEY-FRulT
GOING TO WASTE-THE DURRANT
TRIAL-THEATRICALA
Tny rELEoRArH TO THE rRIPUNE.1


Isy TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIPuNE.l
San Francisco. Aug. 1.-THE death Of Frank
pix,ey was not unexpected. as he had been failing
for over a year. His death. however. revived
many incidents Of his brilliant and erratic career
as editor lawyer and politician. As a writer he
was at his best and it is not too high praise 10
Mace him at the head of all editorial writer's VINO
have done work on this coast. His style was so
attractive that when 1t was known that ne was
to be the chief writer on THE Argonaut," people
bought the paper to see what he had 10 say ne
had cultivated the art Of making enemies 10 per-
lection, and while he was alive none OF them at
tackled him without getting reply that was VIZ
r,olic or contemptuous according 10 MS hoou.
Forty years ago Pixley built house In the miouie
OF a whole city block out In Union-st.' under the
shelter OF Preside Reservation Hill. he fancied
that the city would grow out that way because OF
the beautiful view; but 1t moved in a drec'iv OPP
poste course. Had he improved the same amount
OF land near Golden Gate Park, II wouio nave
made him far richer man.
The waste Of good fruit here this year, owing to
The elut in the market has been large, but the
climax was reached one day this week when 300
crates Of the finest cantaloupes from the Sacra-
mento Valley were dumped into the Bay because
they could not be sold for ten cents crate OF
thirty large melons. Freight on river steamers
je only eighteen cents crate which probably en-
courages excessive shipping. Yet prices at retail
stands are maintained at twenty-five cents Tor
good muskmelon and even the pedcrs Will not
sell for less than ten cents. Hence the poor or
this city get less fruit than the tenement-house
jewellers Of New-York because no smaller coin
than the nickel is current here. and nickel VIII
not buy as much fruit here as 1t will in New
York, though the supply is so great. The Haroor
Commissioners propose to stop the waste OF good
fruit by opening a great free market the wharf,
where producers may sell their fruit without pay
ing commissions to middlemen. The scheme will
do much to reduce the high prices Of fruit and to
prevent present criminal waste.
The discovery Of witness who will testify
that she saw young Durrant 60 into Emanuel
Church with Blanche Lamont on the afternoon
OF the girls disappearance is the most sensa-
tional feature in the case since the finding of the
dead girls body in the church befry. This tes-
timony furnishes the only missing link In the
chain Of evidence connecting the medical student
with the crime. If ii is not impeached 1t should
convict and hang Durrant. The woman who will
give this damaging testimony lived opposite the
church and knew both Durrant and the girl
we'll so that there could be no mistake as to
their identity. Public interest in the trial has
not weakened. Great crowds block the entrance
repus.ve face OF the prisoner
There has been more life in the mining stock
market in the last ten days than for ten months
before. This has been due TO the Hale and Nor
cross decision, which was practical Judgment
in favor OF Martin Fox. who has carried on
suit against the officers for five years for an ac-
counting OF profits Another sign Of new meth
DDS on the Comstock is the action OF the Consoli-
dated California and Virginia directors In decid-
ing to investigate Superintendent Lyman. who is
charged with manipulating reports in order to
affect quotations Of the stock in which he was
specializing.
The production Of Twelfth Night" at the
Columbia Theatre this week. with Rose Coghlan
as Viola. Barrymore as the Duke. and Dixey as
Malvoio, curious performance. in which
the three leading actors did not seem to be in
touch with themselves with Shakespeare
barrymore judged by all the critics to be the
most ineffective Of the three Rose Coghlan
played with little spirit and dash. and she was
entirely too stout to look the part. Dxey's act
ing was warmly commended for its artistic
quality. but 1t superficial and wanting in
genuine Shakespearian flavor. Next week at the
Baldwin John Drew opens in THE Bauble Shop"
He is great favorite that success for his
season Is assured
Among the prominent arrivals Of the week are
John w Mackay who makes his first visit here
since he was dangerously wounded by the old
stock gambler Rippey four years ago, and ID. o.
Mills and ogden Mills who a short trip of
business and pleasure. Mr.. Mills expresses salts
faction at the evidences OF San Francisco's
growth since his last visit.
The architects drawing OF the Spreckels
building at the southwest corner Of Third and
Market SITS shows that 1t will be fourteen stories.
with frontage of seventy-fve feet in each
street. The three lower stories will be of gram
lite and the others of white marble. THE Morn
ing CALI will occupy the twelfth and thirteenth
floors. and on the top floor will be a fine restau-
rant with windows commanding view Of the
harbor and the foothills The defect of the
building is its great height. compared with the
size Of its base, which will be aggravated by the
fact that only two-story structures are on either
side of 1t.
Tourists who come to San Francisco next year
will find new attraction in the scent" railway
which will run to the summit OF Mount Tamal-
pals. which commands fne view of ~ city
and the surrounding country for over fifty miles
The mountain Is now difficult TO climb but the
Pixies Peak railway, will make the trip enjoy
able. On the summit will be large picnic grounds
and small hotel.
The rapid development Of California appears to
have a great fascination for the people who deal
in what Is known the paid "write-up." Re-
Gently NewYork daily newspaper sent man
out here to get a contract for a sl50,oOo write
up of this city and State. He seemed to be
amazed that Californians couldn't see any value
In such work. He was followed shortly after by
the representative OF an illustrated weekly,
whose expectations were far more modest. This
seeker after advertisements was also sent back
disappointed. 1t may not be out OF place to sug-
gest that California Is not gold mine for news
papers to exploit at a dollar line.