The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-06
WHITE LABOR EMPLOYED,
Japanese Considered Unde-
sirable by the Stanford
Estate Managers.
Chief Support Of the Stanford Uni
versity Said to Be Seriously
Threatened.

The Stanford ranches in the vicinity of
Vina embrace altogether $1,000 acres of
productive land. The orchards and vine
yards of this vast estate are expected to
produce much of the revenue to meet the
demands of the university at PaIo Alto.
Some months ago it was observed by men
employed at the vineyard that some of the
vines were not thrifty, but as vines in every
vineyard die no special attention was paid
to the decay. As time wore on evidences
of blight began to multiply, and closer
observation disclosed the fact that disease
of some kind had attacked many of the
vines in spots separated throughout the
vineyard. In many places new cuttings
were put in to replace the decaying vines.
At present it is not known whether the
damage will be very great or only mod
crate.
Charles G. Lathrop, agent of the Stan
ford estate and the Vina distillery, was
seen at his Office in this City yesterday:
In reply to inquiries he said:
We know nothing here, OF our own knowl-
edge, of any disease among the vines at Vina.
THE CALL of this morning gave us the only in
formation we have on the subject. When l
was up there q few days ago everything
seemed to be all right In every vineyard
destroy many vines and replanting is con-
stantly going on in every large vineyard. We
have heard nothing to cause alarm, but some
of the scientific fellows may have discovered
something. When they see bug on tree
they say at once that the bug Is going to eat
the tree.
Mr.. Lathrop said the revenues of the
Vina ranches went to the support of the
university at Palo Alto. He thought a
very good return would be made from the
property this year. 1--WE have" he said,
1900 white men working in the VINEYARD
now. | engaged them here in San Fran
cisco, and had no trouble in getting the
help
What wages do you pay?" was asked.
II do not care to say what we do pay.
We board the men and pay them wages
besides"
Did you try Japanese2'
1--WE employed some from Sacramento
but their employment was not successful"
The professors at Stanford University
claim to be entirely ignorant of the exist
ence OF fatal disease in the vineyards at
VIVA. With one single exception they
profess to have received the first informa-
ton of what may prove of vital importance
to them In the article published in THE
CALL of Saturday.
The one exception referred to is a profess
sor OF high standing in the faculty but who
declines to allow the use of his name for
L
only after great persuasion that he finally
admitted the existence of a mysterious and
fatal disease at Vina.
1t came to him, he said, through a
| brother professor, who he understood had
been called upon to examine the disease
and determine its character. He did not
know the result of the investigation, and
| for that reason alone would decline to be
| quoted in q matter which had been told
him in confidence, and which should only
be stated officially by the investie ating
| party.
Il can neither deny nor affirm the exist
ance of fatal disease in the vineyards
| of Vina," said Emory E. Smith, professor
of horticulture, when seen at his Palo
Of such general importance and interest
| that 1 do not see how it can be kept from
| the vineyardists for any great length of
| time, provided, of course, it is true. 1t is
quite possible that phylloxera may have