The record-union., 1897-11-28

cpon the property. Judge Van Dyke of
Los Angeles has declared this law in
valid, inasmuch as no provision is made
Tor notice to the party whose property is
TO be char~ed affected by the proceed
ing, and that the Legislature cannot
confer upon such commission power TO
declare what constitutes a nuisance.
either public or private. The case has
been appealed, and meantime the fruit
growers do not know where they are at,
so to s.eak. Some claim that the Dis
trict Attorney has power to place a lien
on orchards for compulsory fumlgation,
but others deny this. Some steps GER
tainly ought to be taken 70 have the
facts fully presented to the supreme
Court and urge a speedy decision. Mean
time the pests are liable to multiply. II
would pay the leading fruit growing
counties to unite and employ counsel to
look after the case before the supreme
Court.
A VALUABLE DISCOVERY.
Santa Rosa Republican: When grape
growing was first attempted IN Sonoma
County half a century ago there was
no effort made TO cultivate the vines
without irrigation. 1t was thouSht I'M
possible to produce a crop othefwise.
The lowest and most moist land was
invariably chosen for vineyards. Con-
sequently it was little wonder that the
grapes We're so sour as to be nearly un-
palatable and almost wholly lacking IN
saccharine.
In view Of the fact that Sonoma now
leads its sister counties in the quantity
of wine produced G,000.O0O gallons be-
ing the estimate for the 97 vintage)
and may well assert the claim to supe-
rior quality as Well, it becomes of in
teraSt tC know who gave the industry
it's irst impetus. For several growers
is claimed the distinction of growing
the first unirrigated vineyard, and con-
sequontly producing the first grapes
of value for Wine making.
Oscar Walker of Healdsburg lays
claim to this discovery He planted his
vineyard in 1859 in Alexander Valley.
He set out 5000 vines of the native Cal
ifornia or Mission stock. When it was
learned that he was growing as many
grapes as were produced from the irri-
gated and low lying vineyards and that
the quality was immeasurably better,
his place was visited by grape growers
from different parts of the State.
1t was conclusively proven that
grapes not only could, but should be
grown on uplands, and without irriga-
ton and the viticultural industry en-
tered upon a new epoch
The vines are still bearing heavily
Some of them are two or more feet in
circumference
DREYFUS
Los Angeles Times: Evidence accu-
mulates that Captain Dreyfus, the
FOR selling military secrets to the Ger
Frenchman undergoing Imprisonment
man Government, is the victim of a
conspiracy. If such be the case, it is
subject in which the whole world is
interested 1t is to be hoped that the
matter may be reopened in order that
the accused shall prove his innocence
and the guilty be punished according to
their deserts. The manner in which
Dreyfus is being penned in and guarded
would seem to indicate that there
IS something more in this case
than is shown on it's face Unless there
is nothing in signs, a terrible outrage
is being perpetrated upon a guiltless
man, and for the sake of common hu-
manity, as we'll as in the interest of
justice, the case should be reopened
and the light thrown in upon it.