New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-25
TOPICS IN CALIFORNIA.
THE SUGAR TRUSTS POLICY-FA'R WILL
CAsE-THE SEALING QUESTION.
my TELEGRAPH TO THE TIRE

IpY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBuNE.l
San Francisco April 24-The open avowal OF
Claus Spreckels hiatt he has sold a part interest,"
in his jacksonville beet-sugar factory 10 1ohh
F. Searles Of the Sugar Trust, was received
with great interest. as 1t serves 10 explain '"'
bitter policy which Spreckes has SHOWN ie
cent,v To the renewal of the Hawaiian reciproc-
itv treaty. In an interview Mr. Spreckels makes
the curious statement that he has accepteu anu
from the Sugar Trust in order more speeoI9 "
develop the beet-sugar industry In Cahio'hi"'
although IT is notorious that the Manufacture
OF beet sugar is directly antagonistic 10 'ie III
terests Of the Sugar Trust. The coriiiieioia
hod,es ~ San Francisco are practically unit
against the abrogation Of the RECIPROCITY "e"'S'
and this admission by Spreckels that he mas al
lowed the Sugar Trust to purchase an lh'e'eS'
IN his big factory removes the chief argument
80 ,hoso ,,ombers NJ Congress who favor abro-
cation. The Sugar Trust will soon gain con'ro'
OF the large Chino beet-sugar factory anu ''en
doubtless 1t will show its hand. II 1t Is pushel
nv heavy imports Of Hawaiian sugar Whlch IL
cannot control then its policy will be TO smut
down the California beet-sugar factories. pre-
cse,v as II closed the doors OF big sugar reiiner
.es in Philadelphia.
Tn. Fair will case opened this week. after two
OF PRELIMINARY ""N
noissence. The issue in this first suit turns
on the validity of deeds to valuable real estate
which Senator Fair is alleged to have made IN
<or o+ Mrs Craven n school teacher of San
Francisco. who also claims that she was mar
r,ed IN the millionaire by contract. Able coun-
sci are arrayed on both sides and the struggle
promises to be interesting. some novel law
points will be brought out. Judge Slack VINO
presdes is assisted by advisory jury, but the
decision Of the case will rest with him.
A deal involving the control of all street rail-
WAYS in Oakland has fallen through. owing to
the bad condition Of the London financial mar
ket The railways are mainly electric. and un-
der one management. operating expenses
could be greatly reduced. so that profits would
be large. AS 1t is. they barely ray running eN-
penses. English capitalists secured an option on
nearly all the roads. but this expired Tort
night ago The promoter Of the scheme is nope
ful OF securing Eastern capital to carry out the
project. which, In time would pay large profits
as Oakland is growing rapidly.
Reports from all parts Of the State show that
warm rains now Would be beneficial to grain
Fruit. however, has been helped by the neat
There have been north winds which nave crustea
the ground and made ploughing dfhcuIt. Inc
outlook for good fruit year is eXceleH@ u
less late frosts should spoil the prospects,
The nroposal TO send President Jordan of STAN
ford University to make further investgaton
OF the sealing question on the FrloyIol lsidIIus
has been received here with much iaVor; u
Jordans training has made MS OPINION Vaiuap nc
on any scientific question. During the WINTER ne
has lectured several times on the seal ana us
habits and the question of protection OF seal me-
Though J. L. Smiley dropped out of active
life when he retired from the once Oh f'eslssvl
of San Francisco his death from paralysis TINS
week was learned with regret by ms many
friends He was conspicuous in vigilance COM
mittee days, and, though conservative III tie
use of the great power when olncers Oh 'ne
committee held he incurred the hatreu Oh SCI
oral friends of their victims. Mr. Smiley was
pioneer. and for many years was prominent
merchant and an auctioneer.
All hone of the safety Of the coal ship Samaria
has been abandoned. as the Government revenue
cutter Richard Rush made a carelul search , iol
the vessel along the coast WITHOUT result me
buoy marked Samaria has been picked up at
Long Beach, off the mouth OF the Coiumold
River and seafaring men regard this as pretty
clear proof that the vessel foundered
Georgia Cayvan has repeated her success OF
last week in the new play Mary fennnetoh
Spinster" The other houses all nave variety
or minstrelsy.
In the last year twenty-five steamers arrived
AT this port and loaded with wheat. O1 these
all excert the Linlthgow reached their destlna-
tion i'm safety With one exception these Vessels
came here in ballast from Japan CHINA ana
india This was the largest steam fleet ever en-
ployed in the trade. but the prospecl Is lhd' .is
years fleet will exceed II.
Fresno raisin vineyard owners much
alarmed by ravages Of small grasshoppers which
have settled in swarms in certain parts or the
valley The insect sucks the sap from the grow
ing vines. and as result grapes are small ana
deficient in sugar and thus make poor raisns.
DyC PHILOSOPHICAL MEETING