The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-12
SAM RAINEY, PHILOSOPHER.
[Sketched by a "CaW' artist.

the Fire Department." said Mr.. Rainey yester-
day, as he blew cloud OF smoke through the
interstices of his stubby mustache, when the
Grand Jury found it pastime to investigate
US every six months. No matter whether there
was anything in the wind or not that body of
citizens would haul the Fire Department up
for scoring. OF course, under the circum-
stances, we were our own witnesses and stood
right up TO the music, swearing that every
thing was all highland 1t was" The speaker
thrust another load of smoke out of his face
and continued: zone day Lyons, the depart
ment drayman, came to me and we talked of
the frequency with which the Grand Jury used
to reflect upon our honesty. Lyons was a very
thoughtful man, and looked further ahead than
I was accustomed to. He reviewed the num-
berless times we had been maligned by the
Grand Jury and recalled the occasions on
which we had proven our innocence. He rev.
eled in the fact that our regulations were as
yet untarnished by proof, and altogether he
seemed very we'll satisfied with the condition
of things.
"when we had finished conversing of the mis-
takes OF the Grand Jury he laid his hands on
my shoulder, and with thoughtful expression
on his face said:
Sam, if we should ever get out of the Fire
Department it would be impossible for US to do
it any harm@
"'Why so, LyonsT asked.
"fWell, Sam, I'll tell you. 1t is because we
have sworn so many times that the department
is dead straight and square, F."
Willard T. Barton, who composes popular
songs for pastime and paves the cities of the
East with California asphaltum for business,
| is again in San Francisco. Business may cali
Mr.. Barton to New York and Boston and keep
him away many months of the year, but San
Francisco is his home and it is his delight to
be here. The Lambs Club is joyful place, but
Barton's allegiance to the Owl never falters,
Speaking OF songs at the Bohemian Club YES
terday Mr.. Barton replying to questions said:
"'Razzle Dazzle made great hit and was in
considerable demand for time, but it has not
maintained the steady favor which has been
accorded to Imogene Donahue.' Yes, The
Knights of the Gold-Plated Hod' and
Rachel Rosenheimer' are still sung, but
'Donahue' sells better than any other song of
my composition. This thing of writing songs
is only an incident When I found that the
songs were profitable protected my interests
by copywright and have derived quite sum of
money as the result.
al am nov interested most in shipping to
Eastern cities refined asphaltum from the vast
beds near Santa Barbara. 1t is the best paving
material in the world, even superior to that
which comes from the Island of Trinidad 1t
is extensively used in New York, Brooklyn,
Utica and Syracuse, and is bound to become
popular in other cities. We send East the re-
fined article, and there mix it with sand Mr.
North, the Water Purveyor of New York as
serts that it is the best paving material in the
world. We come into competition with the
product from Trinidad, but are able to meet it,
In New York we lay two and half inches of
asphalt on concrete foundation of six inches.
and the pavement is guaranteed to last for
fifteen years.
"San Francisco" remarked Mr. Barton,
SHOULD be the best-paved city in the world
but it is one of the worst Whoever heard of
pavement being guaranteed to last for any
length OF time in this city? In the East guar
antees are exacted, and the lowest limit OF
time is five years. For the New York pave
ments all the oils and moisture of the material
are extracted and the composition is put on at
temperature OF 226 degrees. With this care
in construction and reasonable diligence in
keeping the street in repair the pavement will
last for fifty years.
"People in California do not comprehend the
value OF the vast deposits of asphaltum in this
State and do not appreciate the excellence of
the article. One bed in Santa Barbara covers
an area of IS 900 acres, yet the world-famed
deposit on the island of Trinidad embraces
only l1S acres. In freights we can hold our
own. OF course, We ship only the refined arti-
| Gle and add the necessary sand when it is pre-
! pared for use. 1t is great industry for Cali
! fornia and its development is just beginning
Mr.. Barton will remain here until March l.
He viii soon be joined by Commodore Harry