Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-09-09


have cost millions, but they are all
back from the road and so shut
out of sight by the trees and ever
green's that you know they are there
only by strong, high fence, the
broad gateway and the cottage for the
gate-keeper. The keeper may re-
fuse you admittanCe, but you can
find some side entrance if you are on
foot or on n wheel. When once in,
you can go through the grounds and
view the house at short distance,
If you keep moving and remember
hdnds off," In the rear of the
house is barn larger and finer than
most houses. The barn is usually
surmounted by large clock, which
strikes off the hours for tho hands on
the ranch. Then there is great
number of cottages, sheds, shops,
etc. Here the hands live and board
themselves. These men live and
work very much as did the negroes
in ante bellum days. In fact, they
fare worse than did the slaves in a
well-regulated Virginia plantation,
except that they can go away when
they choose. They are paid from
$50 to $40 per month, and live on
from $40 to SIS. The farmer here
never thinks fentertaining thresh-
ing crew. The men board them
selves on bread and coffee, and sleep
in the straw stack. The men are
given eight hours of rest during the
night, and one hour at noon the
machine is kept humming during
the remaining fifteen hours of the
day. Threshermen are paid from
S1.50 to $500 per day.
The roads through here are fine,
and much of the travelling is done
on bicycles. The roads are SO
smooth and level that you can ride
for miles without holding your han
die bars. The roads are sprinkled
every night-at night so as not to
interfere with traffic. The county
road from San Francisco to San Jose,
distance of over fifty miles, is
macadamized or clayed, so that it is
almost as hard as pavement all the
way. On July 8th, l rode to San
Jose, mdcr a boiling sun, to hear
VIM. J. Bryan. l averaged mile
in four minutes, and was not much
heated at the end Of the trip. |
found Mr.. Bryan as handsome as
his pictures represent him, and was
not all disappointed in him. He
says it is American to attend to your
own business yourself and in YOUR
own way, but 1t is English to send
three men abroad to get John Bulls
consent to settle the most vital ques-
tion touching the interests of the
American people. About two weeks
ago, l rode up TO the city in the af-
ternoon against breeze in three and
half hours. This was about thir-
ty.five miles. Thus l saved 95 cents
car fare, and consider that 1 made
fairly good wages. l spent day in
the city, and what l saw l shall at
tempt to describe to you.
San Francisco is even more hilly
city than Los Angeles; some of the
streets are frightful grades. 1t is "a
very windy city, and hence a city
OF windmills, on the outskirts. -
Early in the forenoon, as soon as the
sun begins to heat up the San Joa-
quin and Sacramento valleys, brisk
breeze sets up. In the afternoon,
when the mercury registers 1902 and
more over in the valleys, there is a
sweeping gale in the city. Towards
sunset, dense volumes of fog come
pouring in, and frequently is thick
enough by morning to cut with a
knife. You see many people wear
ing overcOats in Frisco on a July
evening. On my arrival in the city,
first paid 80 cents and secured a
room for the night, and then 20
cents for good supper. Then 1
started out with chum to do up the
town.
First, we visited the Palace Hotel,
built by Senator Sharon. Sharon
was an Irishman, and his colleague,
Senator Fair, a poor bartender
They opened up silver mines in Ne
vada in partnership with two other
lrishmen, Flood and Mackay. All
became multi millionaires. They all
came over to the city after they be-
came rich, and here invested their
money. The first two, Sharon and
Fair, went to Sacramento also, and
purchased Senatorial stock. Repre-
sentative Newlands, of Nevada, is, /
believe, a sOn.in-law of Senator Sha-
ron. But to return to the Palace Ho-
tel. 1t was here that Car Reed stood
at his window last fall and reviewed
the "sound money" forces as they
were marched by like so many
horses In harness. This is a mag
nificent building, seven stories high,
and built around the four sides of q
rectangular paved court. Within
this court is circular driveway, so
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