davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-05
One Word
Each Evening

No'e carefully the style Of
type ~ shown IN Rule s.
it will appear 10 the space
OF some Rock Island or
Davenport advertiser. and
viii be In the ssme size
type each evening. No
type Of that Kind appears
elsewhere In the paper
The San Francisco call., 1896-07-24
WEALTH OF SANTA CLARA
Slight Increase in Property
Valuations During the
Past Year.
Progress of the County Shown in
the Report of Assessor
Spitzer.

SAN JOSE, CAL, July 23.-The report
of County Assess or Splitter for the year
1896 shows the total value of all property
in the county to be $50. 406, 440. as against
$55, ,304, ,SS5 in 1895, an increase of $1c1, ,555.
The value of real estate and Improvements
for 1896 is $50. 533, 100, as compared with
$50, 154, ,435 for 1895, an increase of $37S, ,655.
The value placed upon different kinds
of property is as follows: Real estate,
other than city and town lots, $24, 239, ABS I;
Improvements on same, Sc, $50, $40; city and
town lots, $12, ,234. los; improvements on
same. $7,078. $40; personal property. 81, ,502,
$50; money, $305, 900; solvent credits, $64,-
$40. The value of property affected by
mortgages is $11, 800, ,715, and the value of
trust deeds and mortgages on real estate
is placed at $11, 1853. us.
In 1896 the following acreage was sown
in grain and hay. Wheat. 1906 acres; oats,
127; barley, 1885; corn, 297; hay, So LIS.
The acreage of grapevines is as follows:
For table, bearing 495. non bearing 170;
wine grapes, bearing 1927, non-bearing
305 acres.
Tue total number of bearing fruit trees
in the county is placed at 2,641, ,737; non
bearing trees, 1888, ,804; grand total of
fruit trees in county, 4,575, SAL The i'll
crease in bearing French prune trees in
1896 over 1896 is 7O,913. The increase in
peach trees this year over 1895 is 81, $780,
The number of bicycles is placed at 2010
and they are assessed at a total valuation
OF $50. 800.
The San Francisco call., 1896-07-24
SANTA CRUZ ENcAMPMEKT.
The Ministerial Association Concludes Its
La6ors-Women Planning Mis-
sioBary Work.

SANTA CRUZ, CAL, July 23.-The Min
isterial Association at Garfield Park closed
its session to-day. Rev. E. w. Matthews
of San Francisco read paper on the Chris
tan Endeavor movement and the special
work of the Christian church. wherein he
taught that their aims were identical, and
advised the church to resist any effort
that might be made for a denominational
society for the young people. The Chris
tian Endeavor. he said, had the right creed
and name.
The Woman's Board of Missions, which
has in charge much of the home and for
eign mission work of the church, opened
its session at 80 P. NJ. with devotional
exercises. led by Miss May Bateman. Mrs.
ID. G.. Hartley of Butte City is president
and Mrs. Ella Cutter of 1rvington sec
retary. The presidents address showed
that the society had keenly felt the pinch
ing of hard times, but had not been COM
PEELED to curtail its work, not one of its
missionaries being called from the field.
The number in foreign lands had been in
creased, and this fall they hoped to enter
several new countries.
Mrs. ]. +. Tout of Hollister read paper
on 'Individual Work" Mrs. L. A. Pier of
Willows delivered an address on District
Development" incidentally showing how
she had organized the women in three
counties.
Rev. James Small of Oakland preached
eloquently last night tc large congrega-
ton on "Chrisi's Estimate of Man."
The San Francisco call., 1896-07-24
FRESNO 0ARRIEas UNDER F1RE.
Charges Filled by Secret AGENT of the
Postal Department.

FRESNO, CAL. July %. = The mail
carriers of Fresno Postofice are under the
fire of secret service agents of the Postal
Department a few days ago the carriers
received notices from Washington inform
ing them of instances where they had been
derelict in their duties. After much in
vestigation the distributors of mail have
learned that secret agent was in this city
last May following the vocation OF book
agent.
Fault mad been found with all but one
of the carriers. Some are charged with
lettering on their routes and holding
pleasant chats, while others, it is alleged,
did not gather mail from many distant
boxes in the city on each of their trips
Some are charged with falsifying the
record of time when shey reported on and
off duty. The carriers are at present en-
gagged in formulating answers to the COM
plants, and they claim that they can ex-
plain matters satisfactorily.
The Government did not institute the
Secret Service Department until the pres
ent administration took charge of affairs.
1t is claimed that Republican carriers are
The San Francisco call., 1896-07-24
SOCIALIST P JLITICAL CLUBS

Organizations Effected In the Twenty
Eighth and Twenty-Ninth Districts.
The Socialists of the Twenty-ninth As
sembly District met last evening in Irish
American Hall and organized the Twenty
ninth Assembly District Club of the Social
ist Labor party. c. H. Davies was selected
as secretary. G. Solomonson was selected
as the temporary chairman and financial
secretary, also es delegate to the County
Committee.
1t was decided that the club shall meet
every first and third Thursday evening of
each month at 2s7 Natoma street. Solo
monson was directed to make an arrange
ment for district mass-meeting, and
Davis was appointed to make arrangements
for holding open-air meetings on con-
yenient streets from now until the elec-
ton.
The socialists of the Twenty-eighth met
in the same hall and formed the Twenty
eighth Assembly District of the Socialist
Labor party. w. Bean was selected as re-
cording secretary and delegate to the
The San Francisco call., 1896-07-24
ALL TACOMA AROUSED,
Large Reward Offered for the
Apprehension Of Ballot
Thieves.
Business Men Combine to Stamp
Out Lawlessness in the
City.

TACOMA, WASH, July 23.-The robbing
of the ballot-boxes in the City Controllers
vaults, coming as the elimination of a
series of dishonest transactions in the
public affairs OF Tacoma, has resulted in
thoroughly arousing the city. A meeting
of bankers and other business men was
held this afternoon, at which resolution
was passed urging the City Council to
adopt vigorous measures to apprehend the
ballot-box thieves.
A mas.-meeting has been called for Fri
day afternoon, at which time the business
men will probably organize for the pur-
pose of stamping out such lawlessness.
Citizens of all classes, without regard to
their interest in the mayoralty fight, de-
clare this crime to be the worst yet perpe-
trated upon this long-suffering commu-
nifty.
The City Council held a special meeting
tonight and after vigorous addresses,
passed an ordinance appropriating $1,000
to reward the man who hunts down and
convicts the guilty men. 1t is believed at
least five men we're conoerned--one who
planned the job, two who broke through
the wall into the vault and at least two
watchers. The general supposition is that
the perpetrators had some interest in the
continuance of the present administration.
Two weeks ago JaDitor Blanchard found
at the top of a back stairway two crowbars,
partly covered with brickdust, and the
prints of bare feet. A few days later
another crowbar had been added. He
called the attention of Commissioner of
Public Works Doherty to them, and it is
considered strange that the latter did not
begin an investigation.
He told Blanchard the tools must belong
to the city electricians.
After long arguments to-day on the
question of counting the remaining bal
lots, Judge Pritchard decided that the
count should go on. The ballots of one
precinct were counted. Controller Ben
ham testified that further investigation n
disclosed that the seals on the ballots of
five or six more precincts had been broken
1t is believed now that the official returns
will be admitted as evidence for the pre-
cincts of which the ballots were stolen.
Four of these precincts gave Orr majority
of 108 votes, so tnat by counting them out
Mayor Fawcett's majority would be ITO.
The San Francisco call., 1896-07-24
STOCKTON'S FETE
UNDER THE OAKS,
Native Sons and Daughters
Picnic at Goodwater
Grove.
GAY OUTING AT NIGHT.
The Admission Day Fund Swelled
by the Proceeds of a Mid
summer Revel.
DANCE BENEATH LUNA's RAYS
Speed Contest of Cyclers Astride
of Gayly Illuminated
Wheels.
DANCE BENEATH LUNA's RAYS

STOCKTON, CAL, July 23.-There never
was in the history of Stockton so many of
the leading social lights of this city at
Goodwater Grove as tonight, the occasion
being the moonlight picnic and hop of the
Native Sons. The affair was devised to
raise funds to defray the expenses of the
water carnival on Admission day, and it
proved to be a success beyond the expecta-
tions of the most sanguine. The night
was one of those perfect ones for which
Stockton is noted, and hundreds of maids
in white muslins, muIls and lawns grouped
about under the lantern-decked boughs of
the giant oaks at the grove lent beauty to
the scene. Before 9 o'clock there were
over 1000 people in the grove and every
car brought more until the time for home
going, near midnight.
The scene on entering the grove gate
was like glimpse into fairyland. The
branches and boughs of the great oak
trees had been hung with hundreds of
Japanese lanterns, which We'd with the
electric lights to dispel the darkness until
the moon loomed up and cast its beams
of approval upon the merry gathering be-
meath the oaks.
There was concert by a picked band
that lasted from until 9:30 o'clock, and
while the band was discoursing pleasing
music the throng promenaded about the
walks or occupied the settees that cover
the ground between the clubhouse and
the dancing pavilion. Here and there
were booths, where sweet-faced Native
Daughters dispensed cooling drinks or
sold popcorn and icecream. They piled
thriving trade and added many dollar to
the carnival fund.
During the evening the Terminal City
Wheelmen came to the picnic in body
with their wheels decorated with Japa-
nese lanterns. They formed in line and
paraded about the grounds, after which
they went out to the track at the grove
and raced by the light of their own Ian
terms.
The affair was success financially, as
well as socially, for the carnival fund was
increased by many hundreds of dollars.
The San Francisco call., 1896-07-24
HOMES LOST TO
COTTON SETTLERS
A San Bernardino County
Colonization Scheme
CollapSes.
LAND SOLD AT AUCTION.
Foreclosure of the Semi Tropic
Land and Water Company
Mortgage.
RUIN0Us TO SMALL HOLDERS.
Many Unable to Retain Property
Bought on the Installment
Plan.
RUINoUs TO SMALL HOLDERS.
Los ANGELES OFFICE OF THE CALL, !
328 SOUTH BROADWAY,

Los ANGELES, CAL, July %.
The sale to-day of the property of the
Semi-tropic Land and Water Company
near Cotton, in San Bernardino County,
marks the failure of one of the most
promising land subdivision schemes ever
projected in Southern California. In the
struggle to consummate its plans the
company has been involved IN extensive
litigation. This has been brought to an
end by the disposal OF $4,000 acres of land
by auction under foreclosure of the San
Francisco Savings Union. The company
negotiated loan of $500, 900, which was
subsequently reduced to about 1858, ,000
and it was for this loan that the mortgage
was foreclosed. The land was bid in by
the Savings Union, except for tracts pur-
chased by small holders.
The company sold many small tracts to
settlers, some of whom paid in full and
obtained a release for their land. The
larger number were unable to do this, and
they are now the losers. The Savings
Union people offered to accept the balance
due from each of the owners of these
small holdings, but very few of them were
able to meet the requirements and con-
sequently will lose their homes and the
work of several years.
The San Francisco call., 1896-07-24
HONORED BY WSALIANS.
Non-Partisan Reception Given to
Democratic Chairman
Afford.
Conveyed From Tulare on Special
Train and Congratulated by
Hundreds.

VISALIA. CAL, July 23.-Hon. w. II.
Afford, chairman of the Democratic State
Central Committee, was given non-par-
sisan reception upon his arrival in Visalia
this evening, which, for enthusiasm and
good feeling, has never been equaled in
Tulare County. When the people of Tu-
lare City heard that he was to be given
this reception, they telephoned over to
Visalia and insisted that they be per-
mitted to share in honoring the brilliant
young leader of the Democratic party.
Mr.. Afford was met at the Goshen and
was escorted to Tu!are City, where hun
dreds of people were in waiting to offer
congratulations and shake his hand. His
party found a special train was ready to
start to Visalia. When it arrived here
the streets we're crowded with people, and
hrecrackers were being exploded and a
band discoursed patriotic music. Crowds
gathered around Mr.. Afford and offered
congratulations.
Calls for Afford were answered by that
gentleman. who went to the balcony OF
The San Francisco call., 1896-07-24
STEAMER LIVES oUT RATES.
san Francis CO. Stockton Round Trip No,s
Costs btst 25 Cents.

San Franctsco- Stockton Round Trip NosC
Costs 6tst 25 Cents.
STOCKTON, CAL, July pa lively
passenger rate war is on between the lines
of river steamers plying between here and
San Francisco. The fare has been uniform
on both lines up to a few days ago, when
the old line-the California Navig gation
and Improvement Company-cut the rate
in half. making the price for the trip on
the river % cents, the charge for berth
% cents and so cents for stateroom.
This afternoon the Union Transportation
Company, the new line, put the price
down to 25 cents for the round trip be-
tween this city and San Francisco. Every
body now looks for rate war such as was
waged eight or nine years ago, when both
lines would almost pay man for riding
with them rather than let the opposition
get his patronage. Tomorrow the old
line will probably meet to-day's cut and
90 it one better.
The San Francisco call., 1896-07-24
NEGROES CLAIM THE CHILD.
Bitter Contest for the PossessIon OF a
Hhitc Girl

STOCKTON. CAL, July 23.-Domingo
G. Pena to-day applied to the police for
assistance in getting the clothing of his
15-year-old niece, Juana Garcia, from a
house on California street that is kept by
negroes. The girl had been placed with
them for safe keeping, believing that she
would be well cared for. her relatives,
Pena and his wife, being too poor to sup
port her. Several days ago they secured
a home for her in the family of a Stockton
attorney, but she refused to go, saying she
preferred to stay with her negro friends.
Yesterday Pena induced her to go with
him to the cemetery, where his brother,
who lives in the mountains, was waiting.
and they forcibly took the girl to the home
of the brother. The negroes are deter
mined to get the girl back, and so refused
to give up her clothing.
The San Francisco call., 1896-07-24
Confesston of a Burotar.

SAN JOSE, CAL, July 23.-Herbert
Kelley. who was arrested yesterday and
charged with stealing slide-door rollers
from the Independent mill, has been
charged with another burglary. This
morning Kelley confessed to having
broken into the warehouse OF Brown &
Basker on North Market street on Tues
day night and stolen about $500 worth of
household goods stored there. The prop
erty belonged to Thomas Fitzgerald, tor
merly of this city, but now residing in
San Francisco Kelley told what he had
done with the property, and to-day Chief
Kidward recovered most OF it.
The San Francisco call., 1896-07-24
SLAVERY IN CHINA.
Millions of Girls Are Sold on the Block
While They Are Still in Their
fnfuHcy


SEATTLE, WASH, July 2S.-Rev. ]. E.
Adams, a Chinese missionary, writing
from HongkoDg to friend in this city,
says:
slavery and poIygamy seem to be
twins, and they go hand in hand to-day in
China There are millions of polygamous
houses In China and millions of slaves.
Even in the Chinese quarters of cities which
are owned by European Governments, such
as Hongkong, Singapore, Penang, Macao,
Manila, Batavia and Delhi, slavery is al
most as prevalent as In China proper.
slaveg1rls are purchased from their
parents or guardians when they are quite
young. From to years is the favorite
age in the market, as the child when
stripped shows how it will look when fully
grown. The price is then quite low, rang
ing from $40 10 Sic, and the danger of the
child becoming homesick and running
away amounts to nothing. They are
treated kindly, and at Is are often ad-
mirable housekeepers. They receive no
wages, of course, and as for lodgings they
are supposed to sleep-weli, anywhere
on two chairs, a board, stone bench or a
tile floor. A great many girls are sold into
immortality by their parents annually, and
go into the lowest dens in the. Orient.
"Girl slavery has been favored by the
Chinese for many centuries, and is an or
ganic feature of their civilization. Lit ex-
tends from the imperial household in
Peking down to the lowest coolie family.
A San Francisco merchant of good social
and financial standing has three beautiful
daughters who belong to one of the worst
dens in Hongkong. Their mother was a
slave he owned while here sixteen years
The San Francisco call., 1896-07-24
The Resuls.of a Vtvid Inagtnasson,

SAN JOSE, CAL, July 2S.-The story
published some few days ago stating that
Henry huffman and wife and twelve chill
dren of Santa Clara were just recovering
from an illness caused by using milk from
COW affected with tuberculosis appears
to have proceeded from person possessed
of most vivid imagination. There has
been no illness in Mr.. Nuttmans family
except that Mrs. huffman has been a suf-
ferer from Brights disease, though fortu-
nately her condition is now much i'm
proved
The San Francisco call., 1896-07-24
Spanish CONFIRMATION Of Maceo,. Dean

HAVANA. CUBA, July 23.-lt is now
known that Jose Maceo was killed during
an engagement of the insurgent forces un-
der mis- command with the Spanish troops
commanded by General Albert and Colonel
Varia The conflict occurred on June at
Lama del Cato, place near Sango. The
insurgents were defeated.
The San Francisco call., 1896-07-24
Charged 1T to George Law.

The death of George w. Law was the
subject of a good deal of sympathetic COM
ment in the Tenderloin. The owner of
cafe recalled an incident that occurred one
afternoon when the millionaire drove
through Twenty-eighth street. He was
evidently having good time. A saloon
keeper, at whose place Law often stopped
happened to see him. Turning to his bar
keeper he said< "There goes George Law.
inst charge him $500 for wine" And the
bill was paid.--New York correspondence of
Pittsburg Dispatch.
The San Francisco call., 1896-07-24
The DundonaId Snfs.

QUEENSTOWN, IRELAND. July 2S.-The
British bark DundonaId, Captain Girvan.
from San Francisco March 10 for Hull.
previously reported as having been in
collision with the British steamer Penarth,
via Madeira for Manaos, sinking the latter
and proceeding in damaged condition,
has arrived here. Her bows were stove in
by the collision and her spars and fore
peak carried away. She is also leaking
badly and her hold is full of water. The
Santarez are on board the Dundonald.
The San Francisco call., 1896-07-24
seatae,s Chances Not MADE Kno.On.

SEATTLE, WASH, July 23.-Having
enjoyed the freedom of the city last night
and to-day and been shown the advan-
tages of Seattle as terminus, the
japanese quartet of promoters of trans
Tacoma this evening. They expressed
themselves as well pleased, but gave no
intimation of Seattle's chances of securing
the prize. President Asano Is armed with
many letters of recommendation and in
Productions, in several of which he is re-
ferred to as lone of the biggest fnanciers
and operators in Japan"
The San Francisco call., 1896-07-24
LOVER oALIFoRn1A GOLD.
Capitalists Investigating Strike Near
the Gulf

the Gulf.
LOS ANGELES. CAL, July 23.-Consid-
cradle talk has been going on here in
mining circles of late regarding rich strikes
of gold in Lower California. Several Los
Angeles capitalists are making careful
investigation of mine on the gulf side,
about seventy-five miles south of En-
senada. A schooner left San Pedro to-day
with crew of twelve men aboard. They
will touch at San Diego, and from there
will sail into the Gulf of California. Bur-
ros will be used to carry ore from the mine
to the schooner. About fifty tons will be
brought to this city, where it will be
tested. If it should average $50 ton the
mine will be purchased by the capitalists.
The San Francisco call., 1896-07-24

the Palace Hotel, which had been decor
ated with flags and bunting, where be de-
livered short and eloquent speech and
was enthusiastically applauded. He said
he had received congratulations frommen
prominent in the Democratic and other
parties upon his election as chairman of
the State committee, but this ma niticent
gathering OF his friends and neighbo bors
pleased him more than all else. When he
concluded, three rousing cheers were
given for Afford and the throng again
pressed forward to extend greetings.
The San Francisco call., 1896-07-24
DESERTED HUSBAND and BABEs.
II Mothers Flight From, Home Results ia
Dieorce Decree.

SAN JOSE, CAL, July 2S.-Henry F.
Porter was to-day granted divorce from
Ella J. Porter on the ground of desertion.
The plaintiff was given the custody of the
minor children. The Porters were mar
ried in Vermont in 1875 and have nine
children. The family came to this
State several years ago and took up its
residence on ranch near Alum Rock,
where the head of the family engaged in
chopping wood. About year ago Mrs.
Porter tired of urban life, and taking the
eldest son came to this city, where she
has since resided. ALI efforts on the part
of her husband TO have her return TO her
family were futile.
The San Francisco call., 1896-07-24
GERMAN soCIALIsTs MoBBED.
Hot Reception of Delegates to the Con-
0rrss at Lille.

uOt hcCepttOU OI DctcgutcS 10 tHo COu-
gross at LtIIe.
PARIS, FRANCE, July pa Socialist
congress is in progress at Lille and to-day
there arrived in that city to take part in
the proceedings number of German
delegates. The French delegates went to
the railway station to receive and welcome
the Germans and their presence attracted
a crowd.
When the German, delegates appeared
outside the station they found that the
crowd had prepared a welcome of its own
for them. They were greeted with boots
and jeers and cries of down with Ger
manyl Long live Francer'
A scrimmage ensued in which several
persons were injured. The police were
speedily on the scene and restored order
without much difficulty. The disturbance
was entirely due to the French popular
feeling against everything German.
The San Francisco call., 1896-07-24
In.orven. .Australiar aank.

LONDON, Eng, July 23.-A petition
has been presented to the English courts
asking for the win ding up of the CONNER
cial Bank OF Australia, on the ground that
It is unable to pay its debts The banks
report for the yrar ending June 80 shows
a debit balance of f24, 900.