The herald., 1897-05-12
OFFICE OF THE HERALD.

medicinal or merely appetizing. AZ was re-
gently said In the pages of = leading san
Francisco journal. our people bring bot
4isd waters from the heart OF Europe bear
ting strange names and flaming labels. and
every one Of these fluids can be duplicated
or bettered in California. We pay all sorts
Of intermediate profits and imposts ana the
cost OF carriage for 10000 miles for articles
which run loose on our hillsides In abso-
autely unlimited quantities This form Of
Industry requires cheap freights for its
most advantageous development, but It
needs more than that.
yk needs that trustworthy analyses should
b made under the supervision Of the
chemical department OF one Of the two
leading universities of the large variety
OF the mineral spring waters Of the state.
II the owners Of the springs could use the
results 30 obtained for their own advan-
tage there would be no objection, but the
object should be to secure q review OF the
qualities of mineral water obtainable in
California which might be made availa-
bic by the medical profession all over the
country. Physicians now order the Euro
psan waters because 1t is known what they
contain. The home industry will never
assume the Importance and extent to which
At II entitled, until the same sort Of knowl-
edge Is made easily available as regards
the mineral waters of California.
Referring to the gain in the population OF
Los Angeles shown by the recent census,
the San Francisco Examiner kindly says:
LOS Angeles has cause to feel pride
In the results Of its new census that shows
that 1t has passed the one-hundred-thou-
sand mark with something to spare. 1t was
well known that the city was growing with
marvellous rapidity and increasing In trade
and wealth; but there were not many out
side the enthusiastic inhabitants Of the
favored city who were ready to estimate
it, gain at SO great a figure. Seven years
ago when the federal census was taken
Los Angeles showed population OF So 395.
Now the unofficial figures are 100, 750-an In
crease OF 60,355. This Is great number to
gain In seven years. but the circumstances
show no improbability In the figures. San
Erancisco has been having dull times for
the last six years. with falling values of
property and lowering rents. Yet there has
been an increase of at least 5000, and prob
ably more. In the population since 1890
1T IL safe to say that San Francisco has
passed the $4,000 mark, though curiously
enough, while every other city in the land
- eagerly claiming all the population that
the most enthusiastic will allow, San Fran
cisco holds to the census figures of 1890,
or, as In the health reports. modestly sets
the estimate at S30.000 With San Fran
cisco gaining $1,000 population or more,
with the DUH times prevailing here, there
- nothing unlikely in Los Angeles gaining
m equal number. with the comparative
prosperity that she has enjoyed. San Fran
cisco has the greater start, but the south
ern city has had abundant crops and good
prices for Its products and the advantages
Of two railroads to the east. It is to be
NO Ac,, ~ kl~l-
wish and double their population again
BY the time they are ready to take another
census"
The output Of coal or rather Ignite In
Italy does not increase; It varies between
10000 and 100000 metric tons yearly. The
center Of the industry is the San Giovanni
Valdarno basin, where seven mines pro-
duce brown coal. The mines ranking next
in importance are those of Spoleto. The
remainder OF the supply is obtained from
the Tuscan Maremma. from the Gonnesa
basin Of Sardinia and from the Pulli mine
at Valdegno. A large part Of the output
ID made into briquettes, and about 500 men
are employed in that industry.
The new Panama Canal company which
10 now said to be quietly but steadily work
ing upon the construction of q lock canal
In time to save the concession from Colom-
bia, which expired on Oct. 81, 1894. Stock
holders subscribed 100000 toward the
work and from some Of the promoters of the
old company a further sum Of 81, 400 900 was
forced. The report of the commission of
Dutch, Belgian and French engineers, SUBJ
mitted In May, 1890, estimates that a lock-
canal could be built for $3.50 900, 900 ,includ-
ing interest on the investment and 20 per
cent for contingencies. The United States
of Colombia has granted q furtherconces-
sion extending the time of completion to
1904. Under the present administration It
y claimed tina. the strictest economy is
being practiced and the latest devices for
cheaply handling the earth and rock are be-
ing introduced.
The new sugar law of Holland, which
goes into effect Sept. 1, 1897, permits the re-
inning OF sugar In bond and provides draw
backs FOR beet root sugar manufacturer
and sugar refners These drawbacks.
amounting to 2.5O0.0O florins for the work.
ing year Of 1S97-9S. are to be reduced an
nually by 100000 forms until 1866, for
which year and all succeeding years their
amount is fixed at 100000 forms.
The Kruger syndicate Of London has
purchased for 44,000,000 the coal fields OF
jackson county, Ohio. This is among the
eest bituminous coal fields in the west. The
aeld mines ], 100000 tons annually ,and the
aggregate business Ii 81. 800, 900 per year.
with net profit of 100000. This is the
snrst Investment Of the Kruger syndicate
IN this continent. but It 10 said that It will
20 followed up by others.
Tho New York Mail and Express notes
that last year China imported 1900. 900
SQUARE feet Of American lumber. most OF
4 from the states Of Oregon and WASH
ingoon. She, will probably take twice as
much this year. and the demand IL likely
70 increase In geometrical ratio. The great
industrial and commercial development
now under way In China has caused an
enormous demand for lumber, which cam
mot be supplied from her own resources.
the once great forests Of eastern China
naVlng been completely denuded. and the
result y that she has to draw upon othe-
countries for her needs. This ynst trade
Will bs Immensely profitable to our north
western states, but, inasmuch, as IL is sure
to hasten the already too rapid disappear
Ance OF their magnificent forests. It cannot
fairly be regarded as an unmixed BLESSING
There were 1871 suspensions and failures
Of banks. bankers and loan and trust com.
panies Of the United States, as reported "a
Bradstreets. in 1885, as compared with 136
in 1896. only 50 in 1894, and contrasted with
bse In the panic year Of 1898, when the total