davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The herald., 1897-04-23
Los Angeles, April 10.
He Suggested the Breakwater

To the Editor of the Los Angeles Her
ald-During the session of the supreme
court in Los Angeles last week, on mo-
ton of Shirley c. Ward, Esq, Mr.. Sam
uel NJ. Parsons, late of the New York
bar, was admitted to practice in the
courts of California, on certificate OF the
United States supreme court, OF his
membership of the bar of that court.
Mr.. Parsons Is the father of our well
known fellow citizen, George W. Par
sons commissioner and vice-president
for California of the Omaha exposition,
and for some years an active and promi-
nent director of the chamber of COM
merce.
Mr.. Parsons, senior, came out here
two years ago on visit to his children.
and our delightful climate and progress
sive city, with its promising future,
have captured him, like so many others,
and he has concluded to reside in Los
Angeles. and resume the practice of his
profession in our midst.
His great knowledge of the law, es-
pecially of the law of trusts, to which he
has devoted the most extensive re-
search, during his forty-five years or
more of practice in New York, will find
full scope and use with us. In this con-
nection let me state that Mr.. Parsons
early became an earnest student of the
San Pedro and Santa Monica question.
Soon after his arrival the deep sea
harbor project was brought to his at
tention by his son as one of great mo-
ment; and having been, in his early
days, a sailor, and having had expert
ence in the extensive docks of London,
Liverpool and other places, he took up
the matter with keen interest, without
bias, to solve the interesting and i'm
portant problem for himself.
During the following two years he
thoroughly studied and investigated the
respective merits of San Pedro and
Santa Monica, using as aids the reports
of the boards of 80 and '92, proceedings
cf Engineers and Architects associa-
ton, published maps, speeches in con-
gress, etc. He also made visits to San
Pedro and Santa Monica bays. availing
himself of personal examination and in
terviews.
While the board was in session here
he filed with them his conclusions and
reasons in favor of San Pedro, and also
his plan of a breakwater, differing from
those of the two previous boards and Of
the engineers then before the board
For his labor and thought and study
he has the satisfaction of learning that
his conclusions were ratified by the
board, and his suggested breakwater
was substantially the one adopted by
the board.
understand that his papers filed were
pronounced by the authorities at
Washington the best-i.e., the most
convincing and satisfactory of any SUBJ
mitted. w.
The herald., 1897-04-23
Impure Milk

To the Editor Of the Los Angeles
Herald: The attention Of the health Of
ficer of the city of Los Angeles is respect
fully directed to the fact that impure
milk is being supplied by dairymen to
several of the restaurants of this city.
I say by the "dairymen," for it is hardly
reasonable to suppose that the restaur-
ant men would deliberately doctor
pure milk supplied to them by the whole
sale dealers. At any rate, the writer has
been within the last three weeks and up
to and including this day of grace the
10Th of April, 1897, served with so-called
sweet milk on several occasions at more
than three of our city restaurants that
had little other claim to be classed as
lacteal fluid save its color. 1t was an
abominable compound of deleterious In
gradients. 1t had the color and consist
ency of sweet milk, but'to normal pal
ate it tasted of chalk and suggested
chemical manipulation; while to a CIV
ilized stomach 1t was offensive almost to
the point of nausea. If this was its
pathogenetic effect upon strong,
healthy man, what must be the extent OF
the injury inflicted upon the physical
constitutions of delicate women and lit
tie children by the use of such vile stun +?
The man who will aduherate food OF
such general use as milk, an article that
in the case of infants, and even half
grown children, is often the only or the
principal food consumed by them; the
man who will tamper with this other
wise most wholesome and nutritious
food, has, to say the least. descended
very low in the scale of morals. In fact,
there should be an ordinance not only
confiscating the stock Of milk on hand
of every milkman convicted OF dealing
in impure milk, but ordering him to
thenceforth have painted In large let
ters upon his milk wagon the word
Rascal" The desire to make money
to make 1t honestly or by hook or by
crook, is the canker of our day.
All things else must, 1t seems. sue
cumb to this degrading, vicious, un-
Christian, unmanly vogue. To check,
as far as may be, this vice in the matter
of adulteration of pure food. boards or
health have been organized and health
officers appointed. Now, it is folly to
enact laws regulating the sale OF pure
food If such laws are not enforced.
Everybody knows that you cannot In
fiuence a dishonest dealer by moral
suasion. He is going to turn his hon
est" penny whether school keeps or not.
Only fine, or Imprisonment, has logical
force with such a man. Our city health
officer will never cure the rogue who
adulterates the milk he sells to the pub
lie of dishonesty by calling attention to
the moral Nervousness of the offense.
The fear of the legal penalty enforced
with a strong hand, in every case where
the pure food ordinance is violated, is the
only guard the public has from being
imposed upon. If not poisoned by the
thrifty lagos of the milk wagon, or the
"doctoring" of the retail dealer.
j. c. NJ.
The herald., 1897-04-23
REFORMATION MASONRY

The Republican party by high-handed
measures has got the house of represen-
tatives so perfectly in control that it is
no more delibera tive body. The minor
ity has no more rights and no more op-
portunity to make itself heard than if
It were recalcltrant Cuban patriot be-
fore Captain General Weyler's court
martial. The senate is not yet
altogether under the heel of despot
with the iron will and pachydermatous
hide of Speaker Reed. If Mr.. Hobart
could only be mounted on the back of the
senate with Spanish bit in the senate's
mouth and a sharp pair of rowels on his
heels, the satisfaction of politicians who
know no interest but that of their party
and of the pampered trusts which sus
tain the party would be unalloyed. Sen
tor Hanna would probably come closer
to the Reed type of presiding officer
than Mr.. Hobart.
8 Senator Mason is a new man in the
senate. His maiden speech on Wednes-
day was no doubt full of biting sarcasm.
The galleries were packed probably
with lobbyists assembled to give a lift
to the cause of some monopoly whose
shareholders are greedy for further spe-
cial legislation. 1t may not have been
. preconcerted plan to have the galleries
full Of sympathizers who would act as
q we'll drilled claque at some poor play
1t was ION to the business" anyway.
Senator Mason's speech was not de-
void of vgor. 1t was full of flowers of
rhetoric fresh from the breezy plains Of
The herald., 1897-04-23
THE NEW IRRIGATION DIS.
TRICT LAW

The amendment to the irrigation dis
trict law Of the state, which takes the
form of an entirely new act substitu-
ted for the old, is about what might be
expected from men who had no practical
experience with the working of the old
act. This difficulty was foreseen by the
late irrigation congress, which recon-
mended turning the whole over to
commission that should visit all the dis
tricts and become fully acquainted with
the defects of the old law before it at
tempted to do anything.
That congress recommended two things
as especially necessary which the new
act ignores. Both were approved by Mr..
Wright, the author Of the original act,
and also by all friends of the act who be-
lieve it can yet be made of benefit to
the state in spite of the bad odor into
which 1t has fallen. One was the ap-
pointment of a state board of control to
supervise the spending of all money by
the directors, the making of all their con-
tracts and all their acts of any impor-
tance. Experience shows that the ordi-
nary board of directors cannot be trust
ed. No matter how honest they may be,
they will make errors of judgment; they
are too easily hoodwinked by sharpers
their interest in having the work go
ahead and having money spent is often
greater than their interest as land own
ers; too often they are men of no busi-
ness experience and they cannot be ex-
pected to learn the business in the linn
tied time allowed them.
The new act covers some of this diff
Guilty by making the written consent of
a majority of the owners in value of
the lands necessary for the purchase of
over s1O,0 900 worth of material, land Or
labor. But it is the ownership in acreage
that is most affected. and the very
trouble with the old act has been that a
bare majority can do too much. 1t should
be far more than a majority, and four
ffths would hardly be too great. This is
very different from the voting of an Or
binary tax, where one can hardly lose his
land But here it is the easiest thing on
earth for bare majority to vote large
minority out of house and home. For
time has shown that no reliance can be
placed on selling the land or any portion
of it to pay the tax. Without the water
the land is unproductive and no one
wants it except as a speculation. And no
one wants anything for speculation in
an irrigation district until after the wa
ter is flowing and the results are shown
commensurate with the tax burden-a
matter that takes some time to prove
and that will depend largely on the man
agement of the funds and the construc-
ton of the works
If there is anything that time has fully
proved it is that the district system
will not work on wild and unoccupied
lands. Many claimed this to be the case
at the outset, but it was fondly hoped
it would be otherwise. For a short time
in the history of few districts the Land
could be sold at a price that would ena-
BILE the land owner to pay his taxes and
have something over. But this has long
been past. The tenderfoot is awake to
the situation and will have none of il
until he sees the water. And he can
The herald., 1897-04-23
FRIDAY, APRIL 73, 1897.
THE HERALD's FIESTA EDITION

The Herald will on Sunday. the 25th inst.
issue a special Fiesta edition OF forty-
four pages. There is no occasion to indulge
in a flourish of trumpets or revel in proud
boasts. for The Herald will be satisfied
with the peoples verdict, which 1t conn-
IDENTIFY believes will be that a finer or more
complete special edition has never been Is
sued in Southern California
The edition will be superbly illustrated.
The title page. designed by Miss Hattie e.
Crippen of this city and autographed by
Crocker & Co., is rare work of artistic
merit, voucher for which may be gath
cred from a glance at The Herald's hand
some Fiesta poster. The cover will also con-
tain beautifully executed full-page relief
mans of the entire state of California and
of Southern California. especially designed
to show the harbor resources at san Diego
and San Pedro. There will be half-tone
pictures of La Reina de la Fiesta. her
court and prime minister. the president OF
the executive committee and the ofhcials
of the festivities. The financial institutions
of Los Angeles will be represented by por-
traits of many of the most prominent
bankers and business men.
ARRANGEMENTS have been completed to
make this edition the most complete, enter
tanning and graphic record of the weeks
festivities No pains will be spared to de-
pict by pen and pencil in faithful and
brilliant manner the proceedings of each
day.
AS a Fiesta record, The Herald's edition
will be eminently satisfactory but its mis-
sion will be enhanced by much information
concerning this land of sunshine. that will
make it invaluable as a gospel Of immigra-
ton
The progress and resources Of Southern
California will be reflected by five illustra-
ted articles on the counties of Los Angeles
Riverside, Orange, San Bernardino and
San Diego An article describing the Won
derful railroad development In Southern
California during the last twenty-five
years will also be of most valuable interest
Prof A. j. Cook of Pomona college will
contribute a review Of the farmers clubs
and institutes of Southern California, and
d. Edison Smith, secretary of the Pomologi-
cal society, will write of the society's work
and research.
Summer Days Among the Hills and
Streams is the title of a charming paper
by 7. S. Van Dyke. contributed to the
Fiesta edition. There will also be articles
on "Our Resources" "The Navel Orange"
"Our Summer Wild Flowers" by Lorenzo
G. Yates, F. L. s., and on number of other
subjects, which will be invaluable as rev.
elation of our native wealth.
Advertisers who do not intend to let this
unexampled opportunity pass by should
get their copy in early, in order to secure
the best positions and to avoid the rush at
the end of the week.
The prices of tSe Fiesta edition will be as
follows: 10 cents per single copy; % cents
for three copies, so cents for six copies 81
for twelve copies. Orders for mailing
should be left without delay at The Herald
office 900 West Third street
The herald., 1897-04-23
Supervisory Convention

The Stockton Mail in speaking of the
annual state convention of county su-
pervisors held in this city this week,
says: mo place could have been Sc
lected more admirably adapted for such
a convention than Los Angeles, as that
county offers object lessons of great in
terest and value. 1t is certain that our
supervisors will return from the south
with broader and better views. They
will be interested, instructed and sur
prised and will have more acute
knowledge of their duty by the people.
They will see better roads, more paved
and better sprinkled streets and broad
er and more enlightened public spirit
than they have ever before encountered.
1t is to be hoped that they may imbibe
some of the spirit for improvement that
prevails in the south and that they will
put it into effect here on their return"
The herald., 1897-04-23
IN THE PUBLIC EYE

Princeton has promptly elected Grover
Cleveland to her leading clup-the
Nassau.
An 11-year-old hunchback girl has had
her back Strengthened at St. Pol sur
Mer, France, by the application of DR..
Calot's method.
Two Americans, w. T. Dannat, the
painter, and Rodman Wanamaker, son
of John Wanamaker, are among the new
chevaliers Of the Legion OF Honor.
Rev. Eugene ST. John Of Kansas, a
well-known woman clergyman and ad-
vocate of woman suffrage, Is gonig to
Europe to study the problem OF munich
pal government.
Canon Gore, the well-known Anglican
clergyman and theologian, has written
to say that he will attend the conven-
ton of the Episcopal Brotherhood Of st.
Andrew. which is to be held In Buffalo
next october.
The duke Of Leeds. who appears to be
booked for the governor-generalship OF
Canada, to succeed the earl Of Aberdeen,
is known in England as the gin duke, Tor
the reason that he is the senior partner
and managing director Of the firm OF
Holland & Co., which has the largest gin
business in the United Kingdom.
The 104th birthday Of Sergt. Victor
Ballot, a survivor Of the battle of Wa
terloo, has just been celebrated in the
little village Of Carisay. The centen-
arian lives with his daughter and SON.
in-law, aged respectively 81 and 70.
Ballot enjoys good health, the only
drawback to his happiness being deaf
ness, the result Of cannonades, as the
sergeant was an artilleryman.
1t is announced that about $1,000 has
been raised toward the fund for placing
a marble bust of the late Lord Randolph
Churchill within the precincts Of the
house of commons, and as there is no
doubt of the other $500 required being
obtained. 1t has been decided to have
the bust executed and to place 1t in the
wall at the top landing Of the members
staircase leading into the house of COM
mons.
Evaline Lee, an aged negress, who died
recently at Macon, Mo-, was buried with
all the ceremony the village could pro-
vide, and many wealthy country folk
attended tho services. She was 60 years
The herald., 1897-04-23

not see the water until the land owner
has been taxed enough to take away an
ordinary home on dry land. A state
board of control should act on the for
nation of a district, and where 1t Is on
unproductive land. where the only re-
source is the sale of some of the land,
II should forbid the formation OF dis
trict. Although the land may be worth
less without water, 1t will be better for
the state. as we'll as for the owners OF the
worthless land. to have no more fall
ures for capital to point at. Too many
such districts have been formed. and
they are one and all hung up high and
dry for many year to come. The only
districts that can be called success,
or anything like 1t, are very few. Little
Rock Creek is almost the only one-not
Big Rock Creek In Little Rock every
land owner signed the petition, every
land owner voted for the bonds, every
one is not only willing but able to pay
out of other resources than the land.
Allowing every one to vote has done
more than anything else to make the
system unpopular. A constitutional
amendment would be needed to change
It, but it should be had. Requiring ma
jority in value of the land owners to
sign the petition is not enough where
ones home is in question. The conse-
quences of mistake are far too serious,
and it is in no sense analogous to school
or ordinary city bond elections. where
the amount of the tax Is very light on
any one piece of property. Besides. a
special assessment may be voted with
out this requirement by Tom, Dick and
Harry, whose only interest Is in having
some money spent. And this assessment
is generally much heavier than an as
sessment for interest.
The new act is full of such serious err
rors and is plainly the work of one with
little experience in this part of the state.
The law has become so unpopular that
nothing short of radical change which
should leave intact those parts that
have been adjudicated will have any ef-
feet. No matter why it has failed. We
all know that it should have been a sue
cess. But It is useless to say that it is
anything but an abject failure as ap-
piled to those places where water is
the most needed We have already
reputation of being woolly in matters of
finance. This act will not tend to re-
move it, but make US still more ridicu-
lous IN the eyes of those who have stnd-
led the subject the most. The act was
framed for finer quality of human ma
ture than we have developed on this
coast. No one was quicker to see that
mistake than its author, who tried to
have it amended, but was defeated by
it's enemies, who did not want it made
effective. 1t looks as if the enemies had
taken a hand again. for while it has
some good amendments. it is almost as
far as ever from obviating the principal
objections, and has a nice batch of law
suits tied UP in it for the delectation Of
attorneys.
The herald., 1897-04-23

The reply which Congressman Bailey
of Texas makes to the newspaper criti-
cisms regarding the deficiency Of his
wardrobe is not only dignified and man.
ly, but contains many strong sentences
in relation to society and dress that
would do credit to an older head. He
says, in substance, that a representa-
tive of great state at the national halls
of legislation has little time, if he at
tends strictly to business. for the socia
side of life. however alluring it may be-
that his constituents care little whether
he wears a plug hat or a sombrero
whether he wears white shirt or red
one, as long as he looks after their in
tereStS
The herald., 1897-04-23
The Complete Angler

"What's fishing rod?"
'It's a handsome jointed arrange
ment your father holds out over the
water"
whats a fishing pole?"
ITS long wooden stick your. Uncle
Bill catches the fish with. h."-Chicagc
Record
The herald., 1897-04-23

The Republican press of the country
is enjoying a term of fun with Governor
Pingree of Michigan, accusing him of
leaving the Republican ranks. and sew
eral worse things. Mr.. Pingree retail
iates by quoting the Republican platform
OF 1892, the first four lines of which read
"The American people favor bimetal-
lism, and the Republican party demands
the use of both gold and silver as stand
ard money"
The herald., 1897-04-23
SPRING

The bird sings in the treetop,
When he isn't on the ground
A-digging up the garden seeds
That may therein be found;
The book beer sign Is blooming;
'rhe filled and foaming horn
Commingles on the poster
With William Capricorn;
The daring young beginner
Gets out upon his bike,
And like the vernal hobo,
Proceeds to "hit the pike
indianapolis Journal.
The herald., 1897-04-23

1t is quite evident that the fellow who
owns the flying machine which is as
tonishing people in the middle western
states is determined that no other fell
low shall steal his idea. In these days
of infringement of patents this is wise
rrecaution, and some morning we shall
awake to find that the inventor of the
machine that is to revolutionize the
travel of the world has actually been
long-headed enough to continue to own
1t. 1t is unquestionably true that more
thievery has been and is being done
under protection Of the United States
patent laws than by any one other
source. Claiming to be merely curious
to see how the old thing works." they
get the idea, change it, get patent. and,
having money to push it. get in ahead OF
the real inventor.
The herald., 1897-04-23
To His Satisfaction

"A man never makes a mistake by be-
| ing born in Ohio"
How do you known"
1--WE tried it."-Cleveland Plain Deal
The herald., 1897-04-23

To make the battle of flowers this after
noon completely successful every citi-
zen and participant should arm him or
herself with blossoms Everyone should
wear flowers and make the display of the
native wealth with which Flora has en-
dowed us as graceful and general as
possible.
The herald., 1897-04-23
A HOPELESS Case

Husband-You don't try to make home
attractive. Look at that table now; no
luxuries to tempt the appetite"
Wife-Why, you provoking thing; you
teld me last night that you had no ap-
petite.-Boston Transcript
The herald., 1897-04-23

It is claimed that Italy can sell or
anges in New York for the cost of
freight and box from California, pay a
duty of 20 cents q box and still make
money. But then, they are not Califor-
MIA oranges.
The herald., 1897-04-23

Harold NJ. Sewall has received his re-
ward for the Jealous opposition he lev
eled at the head of his father. the Dem
ocratic nominee for vice president, dur
ing the campaign of last fall. Mr.. Sewall
is to go to Hawaii where there will be
no father to fight but where there may
be some very interesting developments
before many moons.
The herald., 1897-04-23
THE PUBLIC PULSE

(The Herald under this heading prints
communications, but does not assume re-
sponsibility for the sentiments expressed.
Correspondents are requested to cultivate
brevity as far as is consistent with the
proper expression of their views)
The herald., 1897-04-23
Mounted Statues of the Future

A bicycle parade in honor of an eques-
trian statue will be something of an
anomaly, but how quaint the eques-
trian statues will look say, twenty years
from now. when bicycle statuary will be
the only up-to-date sort for military
heroes.-Philadelphia Record.
The herald., 1897-04-23

The educational advantages of the FL
esta parades are not to be denied. No
more striking example of the cosmo-
politan character of the community
could have been designed than "The
Spectacle of the Nations" on Wednesday
afternoon. The splendid spectacle last
night engraved many pictures on the
young mind that are bound to inspire
an interest in both botany and mythol-
Ogy
The herald., 1897-04-23

1t seems fitting that modern Rome and
Greece should be brought into close
alliance. The initial step has been taken
by the contribution of italian volunteer
forces to aid the Greeks.
The herald., 1897-04-23

1t may safely be predicted that Sen
ator Wolcott will not be able to leave
the bimetallic baby on the European
doorsteps, and nobody knows it better
than the senator himself.
The herald., 1897-04-23

The war between Greece and Turkey
has put the Cuban struggle in second
place as a matter of international in
terest, which must crafty Spain pro-
digiously.