davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1896-09-13

the break Just before his departure East,
said: ''Tne machinery st the PoweII-street
power-house was built originally TO run
only the PowelI-street and the Jackson
street line OF course, some margin was
allowed on this, but at the time OF the
Midwinter Fair the Sacramento-streeth line
was thrown on this machinery, which has
certainly used up It's reserve force Still it
is impossible 10 increase the power there
for the very lack of room"
There are i've cables operated over the
vinder of the PoweII-street house. One
runs from the power-house TO Market
street, st the foot Of Powell, another from
the Dower-house 20 the ferry, another 10
North Beach at the corner of Bay and
Taylor streets, another out Jackson street
to Central avenue and another out Sacra-
mento street TO Walnut; in all fourteen
miles.
Tue drawback to the general pleasure
that viii be occasioned by the starting of
the cars is the fact that the same old rope
viii be used that for weeks before the
general breakdown caused q daily inter
ruption Of travel by breaklng-sometime
two and three times during the day.
Don't speak about the rope; that is
delicate subject in these parts said 81
employe at the poWer-house yesterday.
Great Seottl what a time we have with
It. Oh yes. We have new rope over there
IN the corner, but the company don't want
10 use it yet. OF course, that's natural
enough. This rope costs money. II Is not
pleasant TO pay out some $1,000 for cable
and have it go to pieces IN three months.
Often it does not last longer than that,
but they try TO force II 70 serve as long as
possible. How does il act in the power
house when 1t breaks? Well, we know
about 1t too quick
There is q weight of about two tons on
q moving truck, back Of the engines, that
takes up the slack rope ana keeps it steady
in the slot. When q loaded car starts
down hill, for instance, It throws q lot
OF rope forward. which would get tangled
in the wheels Of the slot and embarrass
the cars ahead if there was not some pro-
vision for taking It up and keeping
1t taut- This sliding weight here, over
which the cable passes. takes il up Imme-
diately. Well, when the rope breaks the
weight, Of course. drops instantly; you
can hear it for blocks around here. and
everybody knows that the rope Is broken
again.
The engines are stopped instantly, so
that the two ends DO not get far apart, and
men are Immediately sent TO bring them
together and tie them. When the knot
comes over the winder in the power house
the engine is stopped again aud the rope
properly repaired, If it is found necessary.
That viii always be an incident OF cable
railroading- 4 breaking shaft need not
be-not often snyhow."
The work tHat remained TO be done yes
terday was within the province OF the
company's engineer, the labor OF the rig
ger having been completed, the wheels
last evening being in their place on the
The San Francisco call., 1896-09-13
HAS TURNED
HIS FACE TOWARD THE
SAD, SAD SEA
Soured on Society and DweIIs Alone in
Gave on Lands End Beach, Where
He Has No Rent to Pay

"It's because I'm soured on society that
I'm living in this cave" He laid pecuI-
lar emphasis on society"
His name IS Edward Lynn, and he lives
IN very strange hole in the rocks on the
ocean beach, Just below Lands End sta
tion. When the tide IS at its Hood this
rather picturesque character can sit in the
cave and knock the ashes from his pipe
overheard This is convenient and saves
lots of sweeping.
He is rather 8 spareIy built man, about
80 years Of age, with light hair and violet
blue eyes His cheeks have roseate hue
that is due to the sun and the wind, and
his chin beard is OF the color of his hair.
His gsrb is in no way attractive. It is
neither fashionable nor in tatters. It is
just ordinary, comfortable and clean.
His home fronts on little stretch OF
beach backed by high, brush-eOvered sand
dunes and inelosed BY tall. precipitous
cliffs on each side, while IN the foreground
there are g nUmoer of iutting rocks
against which the rolling biIlows break
into beautiful spray, and beyond them the
broad Pacific. This little stretch CT terri
tory which is at the foot OF the slope Of
ground on which is what is known as
LANDS End" station, the true extreme
western limit Of the United States, mid
way between Bakers Beach and Point
LobOs, the solitary inhabitant has named
'ELynn's Beach" and TO resch it he has
cut path along the grade to the railroad
station for the benefit Of those who may
wish to view his habitation OF picnic on
the sands
This bahitsffon carvafi ont nv natr7ra :
in the eastern cliff, little above high
water mark, and IS q triangular-shaped
opening in the rock about forty feet in
depth, twenty or more feet high at the
opening and descending 10 point at the
back; one of those curious freaks, the
formation of which is uaaccountsbIe.
Lynn has built buIkhead across the
front which is sufficiently high to keep
out the high springtides and there is q
step of rock and plank TO reach the top Of
The San Francisco call., 1896-09-13

/ this built OF stray planks that have
tioated in. Just inside the line Of this
oFeakwater there Is a rude stove, with 3
tail pipe, and on this Lynn cooks mis-
meals. He was preparing stew OF beef
and onions.
81 have my kitchen on the outside he
said, Has they have IN the French rotis-
series, so that the odo- OF the cooking viii
not permeate the dining-room."
Behind this there is q long bench on
which are washtuo, tin pans and odds
and ends, and Immediately back Of this Is
stretched across the mouth of the cave
black striped blankeE, which shuts out
from view the interior. Pulling this TO
one side Lynn said, This is my home by
the sad sea waves, and as he said this he
disclosed the interior, which Is fitted up
with barrel, upon the head Of which he
takes his meals, and this he calls his
round table,; there are benches and
shelves, the latter filed with empty bot
ties ana cans, boxes and old clothing.
while az the end there is q division
created by a hanging piece of what once
was white eIotn that separates the din
ing-room from the bedroom That room
Is in the natural color Of the rock From
one wall TO the other are laid pIanks side
BY side, vedged at each end TO keep them
II place. and on these is 3 weIl-worn mat
tress and s blanket which serve as q
couch for the hermit OF Lynn Beach The
only companions that he has are tor
toise-shelI cat and an old black hen
f'As told you" said Lynn, after show
ing what there is to be seen IN his home,
81 took up this place because soUred on
society In the language OF Zimmerman
was not iDpelIed TO it bv melancholy
and discomfort, but by real distzste for
the idle pleasures of the world, rational
contempt for the deceitfuI Joys Of life, and
for its insi1uating and destructive gave
ties and to use my own language. the in
gratitude Of man and his selfishnsss.' For
seventeen years worked as 2 naehinist
IN the Fulton Iron Works, and while there
made some successful ventures IL stocks
which induced me to speculate until the
day OF reverses came. and it all went; then.
in the endeavor to recoup, my home
went, and sadness seized my soul and 1
became almost desperate, and do not know
what I would have done had it not been
for the courage Of my wife, who, despite
my misfortunes, with the instinct Of
true woman, who, like the ivy, cIings
closer the greater the ruin, helped me By
her advice and held out the hope of
brighter day.
"But before that brighter day came she
vas taken from me and 1 was left with
two children. In the days Of my pros
perity / 8a5 passionately fond Of society.
/ was classed as an athlete and was what
you might call q lover of athletic sports.
In those days. when had plenty Of
The San Francisco call., 1896-09-13

tain the necessary nickel TO pay for large
and satisfying '-steams."
The old pIaint of living in Oakland and
wanting to get home to . sick wife and
anxious family that served so long to in
veisIe the coin of the phiIanthropic is
about played out, but this new graft" as
the beggars call it, Is yet fresh and pro-
duetive.
The striker" approaches 3 prospective
victim and begs for food for his family, q
plea that generally gets him an audience,
and then he continues:
Look here, my friend, Pm 10 bum nor
be ggar. Al I want IS food. and not for
mysaIf but for starving family. amt
asking you for money because you might
think I wanted it for beer and refuse TO
give it to me. [ want some meat for my
wife. She amt strong and the doctor says
she must have nourishing food.
There is a buteher-shop right across the
street where I can get plenty fer quarter
Won't you help me that much2- You
needn't give me the money if you don't
want to- You are going right psst-ouy 1t
yourself"
The natural kind-heartedness OF the
average man usually comes to the front
about this time, and he follows the striker
to the butcher-shop, gives him g quarter,
sees the meat purchased, and after receiT-
ing the begger's profuse thanks goes on
MS way rejoicing at having done q good
deed.
Once the deIuded one IS out of sight the
clever mendicant makes 8 bee line for the
first ehesp hashery. where his two bits
worth OF round steak IS readily purchased
for dime, and he reTels in d couple Of
schooners, or, If he has q thirsty friend,
as he generally has, stands treat. Then
ne repairs again to the vicinity Of the
ferry to wait for the next incoming boat
from the east side Of the bay.
The San Francisco call., 1896-09-13
HUNTER DAVIDSON BEGGING WILD aoHTS ON LIKE CHELhH

viii resume their daily and nightly
marches. The noise Of the cable IN the
slot viii sound ike music to the people
who have been climbing the hills on foot
for two weeks
The Market-street Railway Company
has been having an expensive experience
during this period OF two weeks. Not only
has the entire PowelIstreet system, per
haps the most profitable that Is owned By
the company. been of duty, but The Fol-
som and Bryant streets lines have been
stopped during most Of the time
The inconvenience resulting to the
people IN the Mission, while very great,
has still been inconsiderabIe as compared
10 the thousands OF residents OF the hill
districts reached from Powell street, who
have found = means OF cIim bing the
heights only by going far out OF their way.
In many instances the substitute left
them with other heights TO climb. To
them the rumble OF the cable in the slot
to-day-If the expectations of the engi-
neers are realized and it begins to rumble
to-dsy-wi1 come as the sound OF glad
tidings.
The accident in the Powsll-street power
house has been pending for years-indeed,
ever since the shaft began 20 turn. Il
was cracked when put in, and the breach
has been widening ever since. The break
occurred between the big I3ton cogged
gear wheel and the other big wheel at
tached to 1t, around which the ca bIe runs.
and which is called ''the winder'' These
The San Francisco call., 1896-09-13
THE CITY STREETS

TIRE fact is somewhat remarkable that
no person in San Francisco can cor
reetly give the total mileage Of streets
within the boundaries OF the CITY and
County. Several inquiries have been made
at the new City Hall and the answers that
have been received convey the idea that
the total is at least 600 miles, which is.
roughly speaking, about the distance
from San Francisco 10 San Diego. One
reason for the existing uncertainty Ts that
there are miles OF streets still under water
in the northern and southern portions of
the City and County. which are subject to
navigation only and not to pedestrian
ism. Then there are many miles ofstreets
on suburban hills, over which herds OF
cattle roam freely. and of course none of
these are accepted. In fact, thers are less
than 200 miles Of accepted streets alto
gether IN San Francisco.
The San Francisco call., 1896-09-13

there placed IN position, the shaft first
and then the wheels on the shaft. The
progress through the streets was marked
by crushed iron coverings of the man
holes over which the heavy wheels
ehanced to pass The shaft itself weighed
$500 pounds solid steel, while the largest
OF the " heels. the gear wheel, as stated.
weighs between thirteen and fourteen tons.
The engineer IN charge yesterday stated
that everything would be IN order tc start
the wheels going by this afternoon unless
th ere vas some unIooked-for trouble in
adjusting the key Of the shaft to the
wheels.
Superintendent yiuing. speaking about
The San Francisco call., 1896-09-13
A QUEER DEMAND

TEE Chinese conception Of the func-
4 tious OF municipal officer IS nothing
II not original. and many 3 good laugh
the City servants have over the queer
demands made on them.
4 few days ago word was received at the
Health Office from the Sanford Company.
Chinese firm at IO4 Dupont street, that q
nuisance existed at their place OF business
The circumstance OF Chinese reporting q
nuisance was so unusual that II was mag
ined the matter must be OF pressing i'm
portance, and Inspector Fay at once
hurried to the place.
He was net at the door by bland
Celestial, who led him to the rear OF the
store and pointed out two crates Of eggs
standing there
Him nuisance. veIIy bad he re-
marked; 'aIi same Iotten; buy him FIont
The San Francisco call., 1896-09-13

money and did not need the assistance OF
any one. even to the extent Of dime,
there was not one OF those who knew me
but would do anything to assist; but IN
the days Of my adversely, when their as
sistance would have been welcome, they
not only turned from me, but when they
saw me on one side of the street they
would cross to the other TO avoid me-
ait was then that the insiueerity OF So
eiety appeared to me with all its force and
that all its welcomes and pleasures were
nothing more than q sham as fragile as
the spray that breaks on the rocks before
Us So, twelve years ago, when this was
all q wilderness, 1 came out in this section,
having bid farewell 70 society, and for
time lived IN little cabin that belonged
to Mr.. Sutro and for which paid him 81
3 month rent 1t was not much, still it
was rent Then I came down here and
settled, snd pay no rent.
''How do live? Well, I gather mussels
and sell them, and once IN q while get
Job on the road Then there are great
many people who come down here and
have lunch, and as many bring more than
they can eat they hand me what is left
over, and in that Way I manage to get
along. do not seek the society OF those
who come here, nor the society Of any one
else, but If people address me I answer
them with all the civiIity at my COM
mand, but 70 more society for mel have
soured on society"
And with that the hermit of Lynn
Beach retired behind the red blanket pOr-
there's
The San Francisco call., 1896-09-13

two wheels, Of an equal diameter, revolve
on the same steel shaft They are heavily
clamped together; the one with its heavy
cogs, fitting to the cogs OF the smaller
gear wheel, is the Iever-does the lifting,
so to speak-snd transmits its force 20
''tns winder.'
1t was in the brief space between the
gear wheel and the winder that the big
snaft at 9:4l O'Clock Monday morning,
two weeks ago, snapped in two. The big
winder, with fourteen miles Of cable,
streetears hanging TO it over the entire
distance like 3 string OF beads, was left
without propeIling power and gradually
but quickly slowed down. and the great
The San Francisco call., 1896-09-13

had shot him through the heart, but 1
would not care TO have the experience over
again for great deal OF money.
We saw few bears, and succeeded in
getting three of them Tney were brown
bears. one Of them being big and the others
small There are grizzlies IN these wild
mountains, but We did not see any"
Mr.. Davidson says there Is 10 finer place
for real hunting than in that part OF the
Cascades The country is remote. and
consequently It Is not much invaded BY
nimrods. It IS therefore full of game.
The San Francisco call., 1896-09-13
THEY WANT MEAT.

THE opening of so many cheap restau-
= rants, where meals are dispensed for
q dime and IN some instances even for 5
cents, IN that portion of Clay aud Sacra-
mento streets where formerly solid busi-
ness houses held their sway, has given the
chronic beggars who abound on the water
front new scheme by which they can OBJ
The San Francisco call., 1896-09-13

It is expected that to-day the big wheels
in the PowelI-street power-house that
have been still for two weeks viii begin to
revolve again, and the procession Of yel-
low and green cars that have been missed
from the thoroughfares during that time
The San Francisco call., 1896-09-13

new shaft. The keys Of the wheels locking
them TO the shaft were to be adjusted, and
that done they would be ready to 90 ahead
again 1t was thought that would be &C
cOmuIisbed to-day
The San Francisco call., 1896-09-13

stleet- You make MIN take back, give
money back Ne all same native son.
Board Health boss OF this Tlow him in
bay; get money back"
The inspector used some language that
was more forciole than elegant, and the
Chinese seemed hurt when he left with
out taking any action IN the matter.
The San Francisco call., 1896-09-13

The amount Of suIphurous acid /.
town air IN heavy weather is ten to
twenty times that in bright, clear weather.
and IN log the proportion is still greater.
Freshly fallen rain collected IN Man
chester showed as much as 20 parts per
million Of sulphurous acid.
The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1896-02-29
No. POI.
JOINT RESOLUTION

proposing an Amendment to the Consti-
tullon OF the State, Authorizing Cities
ard Towns and Parishes to Levy.
Assess and Collect Special Taxes for
the Purpose of Constructing Public
Roads. Streets and Parks Under Ger
tain Conditions.
SecGoa u lie II resolved by the Cen
eral Assembly OF the State Of Louisiana.
t"o-thircs or all the members elected to
each House concurring therein. That
there shall be submitted to the electors
OF the State for their approval or 70
lection at the next general election for
ftepresa ntatives. in accordance with Ar
tlcle 256 OF the Constitution. the following
duoiuonai article to the Constitution ar
the STATE: The General Assembly NAV
autnorize and empower parishes and in
corporated towns and cities Of this state
10 contract debts and issue evidences
tnsreof from time to time, for the purpose
OF constructing public parks, streets.
Ioaas and bridges. and for that
purpose may issue evidences ~
indebtedness to be used IL 49,
structing such public parks, streets.
roads ana bridges. And for such pur-
pose may authorize and empower the
proper authorities, to levy and assess
speciai taxes upon the property subject
% taxation. in the parish or corporation.
and to collect the same and apply the
proceeds, provided, that such tax a.
levied. assessed and collected. shall not
exceed the rate Of five mills on the dol
iar' IN any one year: provided further.
.ha' no evidence OF indebtedness shall be
issued without full provision being made
Tor the payment OF both the principaI
aho interest thereof, nor extend during a
lonssr period than fifteen years; provided
1urther that such tax shall never be levied
assessed or collected until the proposition
1or which said tax SO collected il ia ha
used. shall have been submitted to the
taxpayers Of the parish or corporation
lot approval or rejection at an election 10
De heid for that purpose, and approved
Dy 2 majority vote Of the taxpayers, both
An Number and value. voting at such
election.
G. W. BOLTON,
speaker or the House Of Representatives.
H. r. L6TT,
President Pro Tempore OF the Senate
A true copy:
!. S. ADAMS, Secretary OF State.
The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1896-02-29
No. 2oo..
JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing an Amendment to the cop.,,-
tuition Of the State Authorizine citt.s
and Towns to Aid Manufactnring
Companies.
Be IT resolved by the General Assembly
OF the State of Louisiana, two-thfrds ~
Al the members elected to each Heuse
cohcGrrlng therein: That there shall ~
submitted to the electors Of the State
TOT their approval or rejection at the
next general election for Representatives
m accordance with Article 256 81 the con
stltution. the following additional article.
The General Assembly NAV au,ho-iza
ana empower Cities and Towns OF hi.
state. 70 aid and assist by donation a.
otnerWlse, Manufacturing Companies To-
ca.ed Withln the corporate limits Of the
cites or towns; and for tina purpose NAV
auihorlze and empower the prcrer All
.aofl'ies OF such municipal CORPORA
LIONS 70 levy, assess and collect special
taxes. and apply the proceeds or s,eh ,ax
m aiding or assisting such manufac-ur-
ihs companies, provided:
ISL such tax so levied, assessed ana
conecteo IN aid OF any one manufactnrinr
consbanE shall not exceed the rate or rre
NILS on the dollar in any one year. nor
The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1896-02-29
O AMENDMENTS

Assembly OF the State Of Louisiana. two
thirds Of all the members elected to each
House concerning. That the following
amendment to the Constitution OF the
State OF Louisiana. be submitted to the
electors OF the State, at the next cleo
ton for Representatives IN 1896.
Article g.. The Governor shall receive q
salary or Five Thousand dollars per an
num-. payable monthly on his own wa
rant.
G.. w. BOLTON,
Speaker Of the House OF Representatives.
II. r. LOTT.
President Pro Temrore Of the Senate.
A true coy:
T. S. ADAMS. Score airy OF Safe.
The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1896-02-29
No 94,
No. 1874. ---.=
JOINT

ooAAN 1AEE9oiAt. io4N
Proposing an Amendment to the Consti-
tuition Of the State of Louisiana,
Relative to the Lease and Employ
ment Of Penitentiary Convicts.
Section ]. Be it resolved by the Cen
eral Assembly of the State Of Louisiana,
two-thirds of all the member elected to
each House eoncurr.ng, That the follow
Ing amendment be adopted as a part Of
the Constitution of the State of Lou:si-
ana:
Section l. No penitentiaryIconvict shall
ever be leased or hired to any person or
or Q~uasi-public. or board, save as author
lied in the next section. provided that
this article shall take effect upon the
extinguishment of the lease made pur-
suant to Act Nc. ia. approved July 10th,
1880.
2. The General Assembly may authorize
the employment under State supervision
and the proper officers and employees
OF the State, of convicts. on public roads
or other public works, or on convict
farms or manufactures owned by or con-
trolled by the State or any public levee
board or on any public levee under such
provisions and restrictions as may be i'm
posed by law.
G. W. BOLTON.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
H. r. LOTT.
President Pro Tempore of the Senate
A true copy:
I. S. ADAMS, Secretary of State.