The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-29
AROUND THE CORRIDORS,

P. H. Wooley, one of the most successful
town-boomers the State of Kansas had during
the period when corner lots in Wichita were
worth more than the average gold mine and
property in hundred towns OF the State
seemed likely never to again be appraised at
earthly values, was at the Baldwin Sunday.
He was pioneer settler in the State named,
and made and lost several fortunes through
the abnormal fluctuations in values there dur
ing the happy times early in the SOS. The
late heavy rains in this State recalled to Mr..
Wooley's mind that great drawback to the
prosperity of certain portions of Kansas
lack of water-and incidentally led up to an
experience in Emporia when that city was first
founded. "The men who laid out the
town agreed among themselves that the
best way to properly advertise the
new burg was through grand blowout"
said N1r. Wooley, "and every possible step was
taken calculated to impress visitors with the
great advantages of Emporia as a place in
which to live. Water was something of a lux
ury in those parts at the time, and it was adyer-
tised that well would be dug which would
ensure plentiful supply. In those days wells
were dug and not bored, and the seekers for
water probed deep, but found it not. AS the
eyentful day drew near the well had reached
depth of sixty feet, but had developed no
signs of moisture, and the night before the
vice number of wagons and commenced haul
ing water from q river few miles from town.
By morning they had stand of over fifty feet
in their well, and the supply not only met all
requirements of the day, but gave the new
town substantial impetus toward future
success"
Master Mechanic Small of the Southern Pa
cifc who is located at Sacramento, was sitting
in the Grand last evening, in company
with several other gentleman, discussing rail-
road matters of more or less moment, when the
official named mentioned the great inconven-
fence and sometimes danger formerly caused
by what is generally known as "hot box"
every traveller knows what hot box is"
said Mr.. Small, "and it arises sometimes from
the use of poor materials in the bearing, some
times on account of imperfect casting and
sometimes from too great weight upon the
bearing, producing friction and heat. But
there are fewer hot boxes now than formerly.
Some of the heaviest cars are now carried upon
six-wheel trucks thus distributing the weight
of each end of the ear upon six journal bear
ings instead of four, and reducing the danger
of excessive friction. Better materials are
used and the workmanship upon them is bet
ter; weights to be carried are calculated more
nicely and greater care is exercised in the
operation, so that the hot box is not what it
once was. In a trip recently made by an old
railroad man, which extended over 10000
miles, and which included points as far apart
as Chicago, the City of Mexico, New York ana
San Francisco, but one hot box was encoun-
tered on the trip"
E. G. Scott, Chicago commercial man, who
spent Sunday at the Palace, tells pretty good
story on Hermann, the magician, who is
just now filing engagement in this city.
The scene was in Chicago. and the magician
had COLL cd h1I 10 cicfh h
upon the stage. In response to the invitation
a young man from military academy came
forward, attired in gray uniform, with the Gus
tomary close-ftting jacket and wide striped
trousers. After mystifying the youth to the
amusement of the spectators for some time the
magician abruptly said, 'tGive me back those
81" The youth declared that he had no
money, but the magician insisted that he had,
saying, "They are in your trousers pockets" at
the same time tapping with his fingers the To-
cality mentioned, and the jingle of silver was
plainly heard. 81 guess you have made mis-
take, said the young man, "these are military
trousers and have no pockets" and the ma
gician found it difficult to overcome the laugh
ter which followed
b Holmes, editor of the Riverside Press.
who was in the city yesterday, says that the adj
vance in price of oranges being marketed from
his section of the State is not very marked, and
that all the talk about growers holding out for
four dollars box is the merest bosh "There
are about 1000 cars of nayels in our locality
which must be placed on the market within
the next thirty days." said he, "and they will,
of course, be sold at the market price. These
are navels to which refer, and there are alto
gether between $500 and 24oO carloads in the
valley" Mr.. Holmes speaks encouragingly of
the outlook for the coming year in Riverside.
and thinks nothing is likely to interfere with
what now appears TO be a bright and prosper
Gus season, unless an Unexpectedly heavy frost
should put in an appearance.
Bearded women have been know. in
every age; one was seen at the court of