davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning call., 1895-01-25
RANGE OF THE STORM.

The storm is now over and we are able
to approximate the area over which it
extended. On the east, on the line of the
Central Pacific, it was severe, but not as
severe as the storm of January, 1890. The
trains were only delayed three or four days,
though the snow lies on level at Truckee
feet inches in depth, at Summit 20 feet,
at Cascade 10 feet, at Cisco IS feet, at Emil
grant Gap 16 feet. The danger here is of
washouts when the snow melts, which it
will do if the thermometer rises.
In the extreme south much mischief was
done by rain and wind. All the rivers
were filed with a torrential flood, which
swept away cattle and barns. The chief
damage appears to have been done at San
Diego and Tia Juana, where more rain fell
in twenty-four hours than is usually pre-
cipitated in whole season. At Ensenada
the wharf is said to have been carried
away by the wind and storm. Strange to
say, the other coast cities do not seem to
have suffered.
But the chief mischief was wrought at
the north. The snowfall has blocked the
Oregon and California line and, by way of
aggravating the trouble, landslides COW
cred the track near Dunsmuir and Delta
with coating of half-frozen mud, which
in places is fifteen feet deep. From all the
northern counties of this State reports of
foods and landslides come pouring in.
The Russian River is higher than it was
ever known to be. Round Valley, which
is generally bare through the winter, is
now covered by nearly two feet of snow.
At Ukiah the precipitation is forty inches,
and deer, bear and wild hogs are crowding
on the settlements, having been drowned
out of their homes. Guerneville is flooded
roads wiped out and bridges carried
away; the southern part of Healdsburg is
under water. Throughout the Sacramento
Valley the streams have risen and low lands
have been submerged.
The storm seems to have assumed semi
circular shape when it attacked the coast,
being most severe at the extremities of the
arc. Up to the present time no damage
has been reported from the San Joaquin,
Santa Clara or Santa Ana valleys.
The morning call., 1895-01-25
SELF GOVERNMENT AT LAST.

The Freeholders have agreed upon draft
of article TX in the new charter on the
subject of the Police Department. The
force is to be governed by board of COM
missioners appointed by the Mayor 1t is
to consist of four members, who are to
serve for four years, two of them, after the
new plan has got into shape, going out of
office biennially. Thus the present plan,
which led to such muddle, Is swept away
at blow, and the interference of the State
with the police branch Of our municipal
business will come to an end. The COM
missioners are to govern the force through
chief, who is to serve for four years, and
will be, of course, removable by the Mayor.
After twenty years of faithful service a
policeman is entitled to pension, which
goes to his widow or orphans in case of his
death.
This scheme possesses many merits, not
the least of these being the enfranchise-
ment of the city from State interference.
This has been the curse of our municipal
The morning call., 1895-01-25
PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT.

Senator-elect Thurston of Nebraska is part
owner of a gold mine that is likely to make
him multimillionaire. The mine is located
in Boise, Head County, Mont. Six years ago
Thurston, General Alger and another man
'grub-staked" a prospector, and the result is a
rich gold belt, fifteen miles wide and twenty
five long. A stock company has been formed,
of which General Alger is president and Thurs
ton vice-president, and active development
will begin Immediately.
John d. Crimnlins was elected treasurer of
the Irish National Federation of America at a
special meeting of the trustees and officers held
recently at the residence of DR.. Emmett This
was the Office held by the late Eugene Kelly.
Camille Flammarion and three other astron-
omers will make model of the moon for the
Paris Exposition of 1900. 1t is said that the
model will be so large that "balloon journeys
will be made around it."
William Waldorf Astor has made contract
with New York florist to place flowers to the
value of $4,000 upon the tomb of the late
Mrs. Astor during the coming year.
Dean Hole lectured in Boston for the benefit
of charity. The receipts were 1920 and the
dean pocketed $40o, leaving the benehciaries
in debt.
Colonel John A. Cockerill, who is going to
Japan for two years for the New York Herald,
will receive $4,000 and all expenses from his
paper.
Miss Sibyl Sanderson's photographs are in
such demand in New York that many of the
larger ones are sold at SIS apiece.
The morning call., 1895-01-25

politics and the most fruitful cause of the
failure of self-government in American
cities. 1t has generally grown out of the
discovery of corruption among municipal
rings Finding that city politicians of
every stripe are bent on Doodle, taxpayers
have flown to the Legislature for relief,
and have assented to the transfer
of municipal powers to the State,
in violation Of the first principles
of self-goyernment and in spite OF the
well-known fact that, group for group, the
State authorities have been just as apt to
be corrupt as the authorities of the city.
The error has been committed in other
places besides San Francisco. Exasperated
by the inefficiency and brutality of the
Tammany police, the citizens of New York
thirty years ago handed over their police
system to the Legislature at Albany, and
have ever since been trying to get it back.
1t was blunder of principle more easily
made than corrected.
The American idea is tn at each commu-
nifty ought to manage its own affairs. In
the abstract, neither the Legislature at
Sacramento nor the Governor has any
more right to administer our municipal
business than our Board of Supervisors
would have to regulate the affairs of Yolo
County. If the citizens of San Francisco
cannot conduct their own business, they
must be compelled to learn how to do SO
by severe and repeated lessons. They
have no right to shirk the duty of self
government. They must be taught by
bitter experience that they cannot afford
to delegate that duty to bosses or political
rings; that every man must attend the
primaries and go to the polls on election
day and vote according to his judgment
and his conscience. Neglect of that duty
entails it's own punishment; the swifter
and the more condign the penalty the less
likely is the neglect to be repeated.
The morning call., 1895-01-25
NO LBX0W IN OURS.

Some enterprising members of the Legis-
lature propose to raise Lexow committee
at Sacramento to investigate San Fran
cisco, which, in the opinion of some of the
rural members, is a sort of modernized
sheol. We are much obliged to the gentle
men, but there is no necessity for any such
jnnket as they propose. The Legislature
has already started on a career which sug-
gests that mining ditch has been dug
from the sands of Pactolus to the capitol
grounds. If the project to ape New York,
and send a committee here, to smell out
our city affairs, is carried into effect, the
State treasury will be mulcted of a few
more thousands. and that will be all.
1t was different in New York There
municipal affairs had got into such mud
die, owing to a combination between the
bosses of both parties, and the absolutism
of Tammany through the acquiescence of
its Republican allies, that it was absolutely
impossible to elicit the facts of the de-
moralization of the civic government
through any municipal machinery. Tam
many owned the police, the executive
officers and the courts; it was bound to
resist investigation and reasonably certain
to defeat it. Hence, it was only through
the Intervention of Legislative committee,
which was beyond Tammany's control,
that the truth could be got at, and the
public confronted with photograph of the
institutions under which they lived. The
Lexow committee, which was in the abb
stract a revolutionary body, had become a
necessity through the force of ciroum-
stances.
There is no such condition of affairs
here. Under the new charter, which it is
to be hoped the Legislature will have no
scruples in approving, the police force,
which was the main objective of the Lexow
committee, may be arraigned, first, before
the Commissioners, and, if they are derelict
in duty, before the Mayor himself. If cap
tains or patrolmen use their position to
blackmail ministers of vice and to shelter
wrongs which the city pays them to
suppress the facts can all be elected on
complaint of any citizen, and public
opinion will compel the punishment of
the guilty. If, again, the helpless lot
owners, widows and orphans are improved
out of their property to put money in
the pockets of the officials and hangers-on
of the Street Department the new instru-
ment will enable the injured parties to
appeal to the Mayor and Supervisors and
to obtain redress. 1t will supply the
former with good excuse for making a
clean sweep in department which has
been the terror of all property-owners.
The morning call., 1895-01-25
LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL.

1t is mistake to pay to the memory of
Lord Randolph Churchill the tributes
which are due to statesmen. He was not
in any sense a statesman. He was mere
parliamentary politician, gifted with an
inexhaustible flow of language, audacity
which verged upon impudence, and su-
perficial knowledge of many things. He
owed his election to Parliament to his
fathers tenants; for his rapid rise to Office
he was indebted to the fact that there are
very few young men in the ranks of the
Tories who know enough to spell word of
four syllables or to go in when it rains.
The French have proverb-in the king
dom of blind men, those who are one-eyed
are chosen to rule. Churchill was the man
with one eye.
His reputation in the House was gained
by his aptitude for uttering smart, pert
speeches. He picked out the Oldest and
ablest members, and said rude things to
their faces. This tickled the gallery, and
gave FLIP to the iaded appetites of club
men. They flocked to Westminster when
Randy" was to speak, because they knew
that he would insult some one, and they
loved row. He does not seem to have
Adu any pO1ItiCdl pIlHC1pIcS LII pdII1Cu-
lar as a rule. He acted with the
Tories, but he was a mutinous subordinate
and they never trusted him. 1t was
against his grain to obey any ones orders;
every Minister under whom he served ex-
pected him to desert at a critical moment.
He is not remembered by any good work
performed while he filed the important
Office of Secretary of State for India. The
assistant secretaries and heads of bureaus
regarded him as a helter-skelter rattle
brain, whose course on any given subject
could never be predicted with certainty
In this country his name has become
familiar through his marriage with one of
the loveliest and brightest girls in New
York. When Jennie Jerome became Lady
Churchill she promised her friends that she
was going to make good American of her
titled husband. In fact it was she who
changed her nationality. She became an
ardent English woman, entered into Eng
lish politics with all the fire of her passion
ate nature, founded the Primrose League
and was recognized by the noblest danes
in England as the leader of the female
branch of the Tory party. 1t is pity that
she could not have changed places with
her husband in Parliament. She, at any
rate, would not have become an opium
eater, and she was too high-bred and
gentle to have tried to emulate the fame of
Thersites.
The morning call., 1895-01-25
PERSONALS.

Frye, merchant of Rutherford, is at the
Russ.
A. ]. Harrell, the visalia banker, is at the
Palace.
DR.. P. Harkey, Sheriff of Suffer County, is at
the Russ.
c. A. Brockington, Grass Valley miner, is at
the Lick.
c. Taaffe, merchant of Oakland is at the
California.
P A Buell., the Stockton lumberman, is at
the Grand.
Frederick Cox, the Sacramento banker, is at
the Grand.
Mrs E. W. Steele and son, of Santa Barbara,
are at the Lick.
Walter D. Tuppie, District Attorney of Fresno,
is at the Palace.
]. H. and C. J. Quinn, horsemen of Chicago,
at the Palace.
E. A. Hague, vineyard man of San Jose is
at the California.
II. J. Small, master mechanic of the Southern
Pacific, is at the Grand.
]. A. McMurtrie, the railroad contractor, of
San Luis 0bispo is at the Palace.
]. H. Einhorn, one of the leading merchants
of Santa Rosa, is at the California.
j. W. Jones, wealthy resident of Los An
geles, is at the Lick with his wife.
G. B. Claiborne, a prominent Stockton
business man, is at the Occidental.
Professor P. ]. Berckmans, president of the
American Pathological Society, is at the Grand.
John II. Sullivan, proprietor of the Sea
Beach Hotel at Santa Cruz, is at the California.
H. Black, who has lately been making some
extensive investments in San Jose, is at the
Lick.
Richard Giro, late owner of the Chino sugar.
factory and the big ranch at the same place, is
at the Occidental.
P. j. Burroughs and L. H. Dodd, jewelrymen
of Chicago, are at the Lick. They are here to
auction the stock of Mr. Wnnsch
The morning call., 1895-01-25
AROUND THE CORRIDORS.

DR.. E. NJ. Snowden of Chicago was at the Oc-
cidental yesterday. The doctor has gained
good deal OF newspaper notoriety in the city
from which he halls because of his action con-
corning Christmas festivities at a Sunday
school of which he was superintendent. Fol-
lowing the tlme-honored custom it was agreed
that Christmas-tree without Santa Claus
would be an absurdity. But right here the
projectors of the entertainment met with unex-
pected opposition. The doctor declared that
Santa Claus was myth, and that the peculiar
custom of bringing the character into promi-
nence had the effect of developing superstition
in the minds OF the children, and was, there
fore, move which merited encouragement.
However, the directors of the Sunday-school
gave the children an opportunity to express
their preference, which resulted in big ma
jority in favor of Old Kris. Whereupon the
doctor resigned.
A. D. White, q rancher who lives near Stock
ton, says that the people of that city talk of
calling public meeting to protest against the
miserable train service afforded between that
place and Sacramento ''There is q train which
leaves Stockton at 8 o'clock in the morning."
said he, (which is patronized by many people
who have business in the capital city. The
distance is but forty miles between the two
cities, yet it requires two hours and half 10
make the trip. returning train leaves Sacra-
mento at 4 30 O'Clock, which is scheduled to
run the distance in the same time. These are
the two most convenient trains for passengers,
and the reason they make such slow time is
that they do local freight work along the route.
What makes the matter more exasperating is
that if the trains happen to have no work to do
they simply lay up at a station to kill time.''
R. NJ. Hart of Los Angeles, who was at the
Lick yesterday, says the bright prospects which
were thought to be in store for the unem-
ployed in that city through the establishment
OF laundry and other enterprises to be con-
Quoted by the Labor Exchange bid fair to be
blasted because of internal arrangements
among the managers. sThe trouble seems to
be that too many of the men interested are
anxious to figure as bosses, but it is hoped that
this spirit will disappear, as the effort meets
with the appreciation and encouragement of
almost the entire community"
I'M. Hayne, an extensive dealer in cattle, of
Waco, Tex, was at the Occidental yesterday
He says that there is shortage in the supply
of cattle all over that State, that the imports
from Mexico do not amount to much, and that
the impression is general that they will have
but little effect upon the supply. "From my
observations" said he, "I am satisfied that
there will be decrease of from 80 to 40 per
cent in the number of head fed this year as
compared with last. A shortness in the water
supply in some portions of the State has caused
many feeders to send their stock to market
much earlier than thew had intended"
The morning call., 1895-01-25

and perhaps too long for the crowded columns
of a daily paper in any form. In substance 1t
provides that the Central Pacific Company may
make its mortgage for $134,OOO,Ooo, accom-
panied by bonds to a like amount, having 10
years to run and drawing ~ per cent per
annum interest, which are to be guaranteed Dy
the United States. These bonds are 10 Dc
issued by the Secretary of the Treasury in sub
stitution for the first mortgage and all otner
existing bonds of the Central and western "a
cifc roads including those issued unoer the
$16 ,o00, 900 mortgage of April, 1889, OF whlcn
the annualr report says S11 900 900 are outstano
ing which have no doubt are still held by MI.
Huntington himself or one OF his various COM
panies. So there is nice plum OF Sl1 0OOOOO
for Mr.. Huntington.
out of the Potcer of the Courts.
The mortgage is also expressly directed to
cover and include call beneficial interest which
the company may have in the existing lease OF
ifs property to the Southern Pacific Company,
thus in very quiet and simple way practlcalIy
confirming the lease under which the stock
holders of the road have been hitherto deprived
of all control over the companies earnings ana
all dividends on their stock; for when once
that lease has been mortgaged as security lot
these bonds guaranteed by the United States, 1t
will be out of the power of any court to decree
a cancellation of it no matter how glarlnga
fraud on the stockholders it might be shown
to be.
repeat that no man conversant with the
question can read this bill and observe the
careful manner in which every interest OF Mr..
Huntington and the Southern Pacific villalny
is guarded and all other things subordinated 70
them, and have the slightest doubt that II, ana
it alone, is the bill Mr. Huntington is muster
ing his forces to pass. If passed it delivers MIN
at once of his creditors, his discontinued STOCK
holders and the United States Government, all
together. puts S11, OOO, 900 in his pockets and
adiourns the whole difficulty over to be dealt
with by a future generation, before the birth OF
which the wicked now to the fore Will cease
from troubling and the weary be at rest.
If thoroughly understood by the members OF
Congress it seems incredible that any man but
a hireling of the railroad company can vote
for it. JOHN T. DOYLE.
San Francisco, January %, 1894.
The morning call., 1895-01-25

the interests of others. The result has
been that the water has been diverted from
original channels and courses, to be by varl-
Gus levees and canals, directed to lands not
previously inundated. Thus the reclama-
ton of a few thousands of acres has often
resulted in the inundation of greater areas.
The correction of this and other evils OF
similar nature, involves the adoption OF
a broad and comprehensive system OF
drainage. The cost should properly be
borne by the entire area benefited, In
Guiding not only such land as has been
known as swamp and overfowed, but
all sections subject to or in danger
OF periodical or occasional inunda-
ton. The Government should extend
material aid, as the improvement of the
river channels and their protection from
dispositions of silt and debris, will be direct
aids to navigation, and make unnecessary
much OF the expense now annually in
Cured in making river improvements.
The rational treatment of the problem
involves the enlargement and utilization
OF the river channels to their maximum
capacity, control of surplus waters in
drainage canals, and a rapid delivery OF
such waters into Suisun Bay. This would
make available for farming purposes vast
areas now comparatively valueless, effec-
tually protect property valued at over
500, 900, and reduce the area subject to
inundation from 1,09o,5o0 acres to about
46, 400 acres, or less than one twenty-third
OF the area now involved.
The work as at this time planned by the
Commissioner involves only the construc-
ton OF drainage canal through the Yolo
basin to Suisun Bay. The waters of the San
joaquin River, however, overflow vast
area to the south, and similar canal from
Newman or Grayson to deep water at
Antioch will be necessity also. The lat
ter could be made useful for irrigation pur-
poses, the Yolo canal serving similarly,
except in smaller degree.
There are no public improvements now
demanding attention with greater claims
for consideration, or which would exert
more extended influence upon the agricul-
tural and commercial interests of the State
The morning call., 1895-01-25

but pound and half, and when applied to
the toy the machine is worked by cloek-work.
His operation is so satisfactory that large
machine capable of carrying man is being
constructed.
The flying machine consists of a mast of
bamboo carved at the bottom like an umbrella
handle, upon which the saddle rests Below
the saddle is the pedal, which is similar to
those which were used upon the old Star bicy-
cles, the motion of the feet being up and down.
The mast has length of about nine feet
Above the head of the operator, who sits
astride the saddle, is parachute made of
oiled muslin, with square bamboo frame.
The front end of the parachute is higher than
the back, SO that the effect when the machine
is in motion is to cause it to soar like q
kite. At the front end of the parachute is the
propeller, with two large funnel-shaped alum
inium blades, the particular form of which MI
Clark expects to get patented.
The small wheel at the pedal connects with a
larger one at the point where the shaft from
the propeller intersects the mast the gearing
being so high that the operation of the pedals
produces 400 or more revolutions minute of
the propeller. Braces extend from the mast to
the propeller to strengthen it and to steady the
parachute.
From the parachute and opposite the pro-
peller is the steering apparatus, fat tri
angular tail being used to guide the machine
up or down, and a vertical rudder to turn the
machine to the right or left. The tail and rud-
der are operated by cords, which extend to q
point on the mast conveniently reached by the
hand Of the operator.
The Toronto Street Electric Railway Company
is under contract with the city to keep the
streets sprinkled along its lines, and for this