davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1898-11-29
THE WRECK OF TIE WALKER

I1TH the wreck of the T. C. Walker it appears
 \A| we confronted with another of those direful
 catastrophes that set down as accidents for which no one is to blame. From statements made by those who are in position to know most about the matter 1t would seem that everything all right with the boiler, and the explosion either pure cussedness the part of the steam or the direct work of the devil.
 The average who does not believe in special diaboliss in the perversity of nanimate forces will hardly be able to rid his mind of the conviction that the disaster the result of human carelessness Either the boiler too weak to carry the normal pressure of steam required to prope the boat else the pressure made abnormally high We are as- sured, however, that neither of these things was factor in the The boilers, we are told were comparatively new, and had been recently tested and approved by the Government Inspectors and regis tered for pressure of 17o pounds We further told that at the time the accident occurred the gauge registered pressure of but I5o pounds.
 The solution of the problem will have to be left to official inquiry, but public opinion should demand that the inquiry be careful and exhaustive Most accidents to modern machinery, when scientifically investigated, found to be the results of negligence proprietors Either the machine was badly run or it bad machine
 The fixing of responsibility in cases of such acci- dents tends prevent their occurrence in future An important duty Is, therefore, imposed upon officials charged with the investigation. During the early part o the year good many wrecks occurred among the vessels fitted out for the Alaskan trade, but more rigid investigation into two such disasters stopped that form of criminal reckessness similar vgor of investigation into this accident might have an equally good result the river shipping
The San Francisco call., 1898-11-29
THE NEW PoSTOFFICE.

% CONGRESSMAN LOUD struck responsive
 chord in the breast of San Francisco when he N announced upon his arrival at Washington that he intended to ascertain why work IS not proceeding more rapidly upon the Postofce building at the ner of Seventh and Mission That structure is not in MT: Loud's district, but the people of the Fourth Congressional will appreciate anything he do for them. They have long been represented in Congress by gentleman who does not bother about such little things as postoffices.
 Unless MT. Loud somebody else stirs up the Treasury Department in the matter of this building probably the present generation of San Franciscans will live 1t constructed. Work upon the Temple of Justice at Kearny and Washington streets is proceeding with lightning like speed compared with that upon the new Postofce and yet the former has been snailish In its slowness.
 The Postofice lot purchased by the Govern ment in 1883. Nearly four years were consumed in inspecting" if. A number of expeditions sent from Washington with instructions to ascertain whether or not the stories of the owners of rival sites that there bog under the lot true; and then the War Department engineers tackled the proposi- tion Several carloads of earth sent East to be "analyzed and the lot was drilled full of aresian wells with a view of uneathing the bog Finally work was commenced upon the foundation. Alter a year of delay, during which contractor has been convicted of working his more than eight hours day. the walls tor the superstructure have been pleted
 It seems to us that five years Is quite long time to consume n the preliminary work of inspecting" the site and building the foundation of the Posofice It strikes us also that it is about time somebody stirred the Treasury Department up to greater activ- ity Congressman Loud can render the people of this city more efficient service than in demanding to know the causes of delay and in requesting that fur ther procrastination be dispensed with. The Post office ought to be finished before the end of the century, but unless somebody takes hold of it and makes:the Government move, the twentieth century will expire before letter is mailed at the new loca- tion
 One hundred years will not suffice to settle all the disputes that will arise over the building the treas ury officials left to themselves They have occu- pied five years in disposing of rumor about bog under the lot and do not yet be satisfied that it was joke
The San Francisco call., 1898-11-29
STREET IMPROVEMENTS.

The following is complete list of street improvements passed by the Board of Su- pervisors at yesterdays session: RESOLUTION ORDERING STREET WORK paving. anu Greenwich. Baker to Lyon-Same Indiana, Eighteenth to Mariposa-Pine sen,a De Long avenue, Frederick to southerly fer mina,on m. ai or De Long avenue-Paving with bas- alt blocks rive feet each side of the center line and that the remaining portion of Said road way be paved with btuninous rock
 RESOLUTION OF INTENTION Crossing of Waller and Steiner-Artif,cial stone sidewalks A'siAiOAai Crossing of Haight and Pierce-same. Vallejo, Stockton to PowelI-Same
 EXTENSIONS OF TIME GRANTED Church, Thirteenth to Hermann-E W E,, Ter 60 days on paving, etc.
 Market, Valencia to Church-To F. Head. 90 days on paving " Market. Church to Sanchez-Same. SCross,ng or Market and Church-Same. ro crossing ,, or Golden Gate avenue and Lyon 10 J. J. Bowling. 30 days paving EXTENSIONS OF TIME RECOMMENDED. VI, Lombard, Polk to Van Ness avenue-To Wsrren SIIen < Malley; 90 days on paving, etc. Ninth avenue. K to 135 feet south of p macadamzing
 RESOLUTION OF FULL ACCEPTANCE. |, ,Leavenworth, Green to Union-Basalt and Leavenworth. Hilbert to Greenwich-Bitu- men.
 Jones, Jackson to Pacihc-Basalt and bitu men.
 RECOMMENDED FOR FULL ACCEPTANCE. Filbert, Octavia to Laguna-Bitumen. Eighteenth, Noe to SancheZ-Same termination-Same.
 Ashbury. Fell to Haves-Same. RECOMMENDED FOR CONDITIONAL AC-
 CEPTANCE.
 Locust. Franklin for a distance of 137:6 feet
 PRIVATE CONTRACTS
 Alabama, TWenty-third to Twenty,fourth-
The San Francisco call., 1898-11-29
WAR SPIRIT DECLINING.

TT HE reorganization of the National Guard by the reflling of its regiments is reported by the
 officers to go slowly because of the decline ot military enthusiasm.
 This does not imply any lack of the defensive and offensive spirit which springs to the country srescue 1n crisis That spirit has been shown by our people III inc Revolution the Mexican and Civil and n the late contest with Spain But it shows that Americans do not care much for soldering for its sake The decline of that form of enthusiasm also largely due to the rgors of service in the tropics. Alter all is said about official neglect and lack of sanitary equip nent the fact remains that official zeal and et- fcency and perfection of hospital and medical equipment arrest the ravages of the tropical ci-
 mate among troops fitted by racial resistance for life under vertical
 Visitors to Hawaii who have briefly sojourned there at the most favorable season have written volumes about the Paradise of the Pacific. But troops quartered there under the most favorable ditions have found it the reverse of a para disc They have been subject to forms of sickness which, while amenabe to treatment in the temperate zone, are as fatal and irresistible as bullets in the tropics still sadder story from Manila, and Cuba ranks in the reports pest island The feature of it Is that tropical climate, If 1t spare life, leaves constitution broken beyond repair All this information is not to be had in published ports nor in the news columns of the press It in the sad letters written home by the who suffer The prospect of great army needed to garrison these tropical posts, and certainly in the Philippines to conquest the natives, who will fight against further colonial subection, deters from enlistment in the regulars and from entering National Guard which may at any moment be again called to arms, not to fight Spain but the people whom delivered from Spanish rule.
 These signs must be wisely studied by public men. They indications of the popular will and feeling which cannot be ignored. They enforce the lesson which The Call has kept before its readers from the beginning.
 That lesson has seemed at times to be forgotten by commercial bodies, which seem to think that compel trade by guns and the sword It is true that conquest the ten millions of Filipinos, we the Cubans for Government has the great power of conscription, by which it make army of eight ten millions of men. But 1t will be sad day when the republic forces its citizens into the ranks of army of conquest to unwilling people.
 We cannot surrender the conviction that the path out of the situation greatness lies in securing such coaling and naval stations will pur pose and the bestowa of sovereignty upon the people have delivered from Spain, the payment of the cost and retirement to borders. Then the money and energy which will be required to carry imperial military policy can be devoted to peaceful development and the world will fear and feats of arms may achieve military republic.
The San Francisco call., 1898-11-29
AROUND THE
 CORRIDORS.

F. A. Robinson of Shanghai is at the Palace.
 Mrs. H. M Mott-Smith of Honolulu is guest at the Occidental.
 J. D. Murdock and wife of Los Angeles have taken apartments at the Russ.
 E. A. Vance, the Eureka lumber mer- chant and hotel owner, is at the Grand.
 Mrs. A. w. Simpson and daughter of Stockton are guests at the Occidental.
 Rev. Eugene Sheehy of Limerick, Ire land, registered at the Palace yesterday morning.
 J. A. Strong, capitalist of Sierra Val ley, is at the Russ, and is accompanied by his family.
 NJ J. Kinney, who is largely interest ed in the fish canneries at Astoria, Ore gon, is registered at the Lick.
 Congressman Marion de Vries of Stock ton and J. Baumgarten of the Riverside Press are two of the arrivals at the Cali fornia.
 Fred E. Wadsworth, cashier of the Bank of Yreka; J. P. Ormstott, a Yuba rancher, and N. A. Bradley, a mining man of Hollister, are at the Grand.
 Mrs. c. A. Robertson. Mrs. D. C. Little and child W. J. and D. Clarke Robert son, of Toronto, are guests at the Cali fornia. They are en route to the Orient.
 A. Brown of Milton. the newly elected member of the State Board of Equaliza- tion, and F. J. Brandon of San Jose. ex- secretary of the Senate, are registered at the Lick.
 William Niles, the fancy stock breeder of Los Angeles, and Jeff F. Moser, com mander of the United States steamer Albatross, are among the arrivals at the Occidental.
 Frank c. Bowman of St. Louis. who lost all his effects in the Baldwin fire, is now located at the California. His wife and child, who escaped uninjured, are with him.
 w. H. Hammond and A. G. Wishon, prominent citizens of .Visalia; J. Craig and wife of Highland Springs and H. 0. Turner. a grain merchant of Modesto, are registered at the Grand. l United States Senator. William M Stewart of Nevada Is making flying visit to this city on pleasure bent, and is l at the Palace. His granddaughter ac-, companies him. They will return to-day. James McNeill of Santa Cruz; JohnFen- | nell, who owns extensive ranches in Te- hama County; H. H. Knapp, the banker, of Napa; and W. B. P1ess, who has been l located at Victoria, B. C.. for two years, are some of the guests at the Palace. 1 At the Lick are registered J. c. Bull l Jr., the contractor, of Arcata. with his 1 daughter and granddaughter; George | Newman and Adolph Solomon, Fl Paso merchants, and the Rev P. Hassett, a Catholic clergyman of Watsonville.
The San Francisco call., 1898-11-29
AN ERA OF PROPOSITIONS.

FOR the people of the Eastern States the next five years to be prolific of expositions. They are to cover every variety of industrial activity and many of them to be conducted on a scale of great magnitude Moreover all the larger ones expect liberal appropriations from the General Government.
 Without counting the exposition movements in smaller cities the projects under way include a Commercial Exposition in Philadelphia in I8oo a Pan-Amercan Exposition in Buffalo in Iooo Uni versal Exposition in New York in Ioo1 Cincinnati Exposition in 1902 and Worlds Fair at St. Louis in 1903.
 It will be that all of these projects have their home in the Eastern section of the country. There i; but one of them west of the Mississippi and none west of the Missouri The promoters will cooperate with another in getting appropriations from the General Government, and there be no doubt that each will be munifcently assisted
 While these expositions are going on the West will help pay the bills, help to make the exhibits and help to patronize the expositions when opened To the people of the East however nearly all the bene- fits will accrue. We shall have, 1t IS true an oppor- tunity at each to make display of resources and industries but beyond that gain will be ttle
The San Francisco call., 1898-11-29
CANCELS THE
 CONTRACT EOR
 CITY GARBAGE Crematory Company
 WithdraWs. SUPERVISORS IN MANY DEALS FIRE DEPARTMENT DEMANDS BETTER WATER SERVICE. Shea 6 Shea Figure the Cost of Fur nishing the New Hall
 of Justice at Some
 $sO, 1000.
SUPERVISORS IN MANY DEALS
FIRE DEPARTMENT DEMANDS
 BETTER WATER SERVICE.

Three cleverly conceived but poorly exe- cuted jobs of ample proportions stuck their heads up at the meeting of the Board of Supervisors yesterday, and af- ter nodding pleasantly at Captain Delany and one or two other acquaintances on the board disappeared again beneath the surface to appear probably at another time.
 The garbage contract, which provided that the city should pay the running ex- penses and a reasonable profit to the crematory company for incinerating the refuse gathered from private houses, was first on parade, but it was called down in its first blush by a vigorous letter from the crematory company, which said that owing to the unkind criticism that the newspapers had heaped upon the proposition and the mistaken idea of the contract that seemed to prevail among the citizens whom it was designed to benefit, the company could do nothing but withdraw and, for the present, refuse to enter into any contract whatsoever for burning the city's gar bage.
 When the matter evetually came up for consideration Supervisor Lack mann moved that the advertisement of the contract be stopped and the instru- ment be returned to the crematory com pany. His motion found a second in Britt, and as Mayor Phelan put the motion, the board voted to indefinitely postpone fur ther action.
 of resolution to pay SIT 900 for the prop erty through which 1t Is proposed to open Lyon street to the water front was on the file of new business when 1t was brought into the chambers, but the dis covery was made that there were not enough votes to push 1t through and 1t was taken off the file before it had got before the board.
 The property on the Lyon street exten- sion was appraised at 5000 as its present were Thomas Magee, A. l.. Baldwin and G. H. Umbsen, three of the foremost real estate operators in the city. Yesterdays resolution provided that the sum of ST. named as the agent for the property owners.
 tice bids fair to be as prolific of profit as anything that has engaged the atten- ton of the board during the latter half of its existence, particularly if the esti- mate of Shea & Shea, the architects, which was submitted yesterday, shall be reported favorably by the Committee on Public Buildings.
 the expenditure of which is divided as
 Furniture. s40,o0O; combination gas and electric fixtures, $1S,000; Bertillon system of Identification photographic appliances, s8000; telephone system and electric light apparatus, marble switchboard, indica- tors, etc., connecting and furnishing the electric light system in the building, S6500; ventilating screens to all windows and transoms, throughout, s3000 kitchen 5000; metal racks and shelves, $500; pris- on sinks, drains and trays. $50; ash boxes, wood. coal, vegetable metal boxes S175: cooper kitchen utensils, $500; vault doors
The San Francisco call., 1898-11-29
PUGILISM KNOCKED OUT.

HE make-believe blows struck by Corbett and
 Sharkey the other night were not designed to
 harm. They were exchanged by an understand ing as definitely arranged the details of horse trade The knew that the purse was to be divided equally themselves after the club had secured a share Neither had any object in nflicting bruises on the other Indeed to have done so would have narred their pleasant relations and olted the honor which prevails among thieves The public, collective sucker, had been selected as the victim It always had responded to the chance to be bed by the mock fighter.
 However, the baby blows given and taken have had the effect of knocking pugism out at least for time The public does not like to be taken in by methods so palpable: It wants its gold bricks artistically gilded. This is not lofty view. If pugists really fought they would flourish; but frauds who will not fight they arouse antagonism.
 Perhaps it is a reflection upon morals and inteli- gence but it is true that the brutality of pugilsm would not kill it. The fact that it was breeding class of thugs, supporting a lot of vagrants sustaining gamblers and drawing youth into bad society and reckless habits would all be passed over But the pugist has taken to open swindng and to laughing at his dupes. There is limit to human endurance Alas and aas the pugilist may ultimately have to go to work starye.
The San Francisco call., 1898-11-29

and metallic shelving, 5000; racks, water filters for entire building, 5000.
 There was no itemized list of the furni- ture that was bid for to the extent of S40.0OO nor of the photographic appliances designed for the experimentation of Chief Lees that is billed at $S000. These things the board did not take time to discuss, but referred the estimate to the commit tee.
 the Fire Commissioners were read and referred to the Fire Committee. The first was inspired by the Baldwin fire and the second was brought out by the same catastrophe. Number 1 read as follows:
 The Honorable Board of Supervis- ors: The Board of Fire Commission CTS respectfully desire to call your attention to the fact that during the progress of the fire at the Baldwin Hotel on the morning of the 23d inst. all that portion of the city which re- ceives its water supply from the Col 1ege Hill reservoir was without wa ter. Complaints have been made at this office from citizens in the neigh borhood of Ellis and Hyde streets, McAllister and Webster, Fifteenth and Noe and Chinatown south of Jackson street.
 These facts disclose a most serious state of affairs that imperatively de- mands immediate attention, and some proper remedy should be applied without delay. Respectfully,
 The Board of Fire Commissioners.
 The second stated that on rainy or foggy nights 1t is almost impossible for the de- partment to get its apparatus over the slippery pavement to the scene of any fire that may be on, and requested the board to consider a plan to lay in the cen ter of all streets of an 8 per cent grade or over a fourteen-foot strip of basalt blocks grade a strip of bitumen. Such an inn provement the letter stated, would pre- vent the feet of the fire horses slipping on the wet bitumen and would greatly facili- tate the work of the department
 By vote of seven to two the Natural Ice Company was granted permission to erect poles and maintain wires for an electric system along Ninth street to Di- vision street and along that street to the block bounded by Division Rhode Island. Alameda and Kansas streets.
 Captain Delany's gambling ordinance came up again in somewhat changed at tire. It no longer discriminated against freeze out in favor of the slot machines but stopped gambling for gain altogether It was referred to the Judiciary Commit tee, but Chairman Smith would not stand for 1t, and demanded that 1t be given into Phelan finally settled the matter by stay. ing with his original decision and the or- dfnance will have to find death at the hands of the judiciary
The San Francisco call., 1898-11-29
Leather Goods Notice.

Holiday goods are coming in and new things are opened up every day We stamp your name in gold letters free of charge on pocketbooks. letter and, card cases, bill books, diaries, lap tablets. tray cling sets, music rolls, valises, handbags and chatelaines. The only cheap line of good trunks in the city. Sanborn, Vail & Co.,, Al Market street
The San Francisco call., 1898-11-29
AUCTION SALES.

By Frank day at Il o'clock furniture e GOA Geary ~
 
 By Kip Co-This evening, at 7:$o o'clock thoroughbped Ness avenue and Market street. By December l. at Il o'clock livery stab at
The San Francisco call., 1898-11-29

A tutor who footed the flute, Tried to teach two young tooters to toot;
 Said the two to the tutor,
 ''IS it harder to toot or To tutor two tooters to toot?''
The San Francisco call., 1898-11-29
ANU USEMENTS

California-''secret Service.' CoIumbia-''Gayest Manhattan" Alcazar-"The Politician" Tivoli-'Cyrano de Bergerac" Morosco's-'The Commodore" Cornedy-"Cyrano de Bergerac." Orpheupl--yaudeyie The Chutes-Gorrla vaudeville and the zoo. OIympia-Corner and Eddy streets, specaltleG Sutro's Baths-Swimmng,
 Rosenthal-Comng in December Oakland Race Track-Races to-day. Mechanics P Pavion-Charity Bazaar, Thursday Decen
The San Francisco call., 1898-11-29

Corbett says he is crushed by the charges of con nivance in the crookedness which netted him $15ooo However his talking apparatus escaped uninjured and the size of the purse will tend to heal his bruises At this price per crush Corbett may be considered standing candidate for crushing
The San Francisco call., 1898-11-29
Cal. glace fru.- soc per ID at Townsend's..

Special information supplied daily to business houses and public men by the Press Clipping Bureau (Allen's), 510 Mont gomery street. Telephone Main 1042
The San Francisco call., 1898-11-29

ACKERS ENGLISH REMEDY IS BEYOND question the greatest of all modern renaedi Ss. It will cough cold immediately or
 money back. At no Percentage PharmacY.
The San Francisco call., 1898-11-29

When going away take bottle Of the genu- inc imported Dr. Siegert's Angostura Bitters. Neutralizes impurities in water.
The San Francisco call., 1898-11-29

It may be well to state that while President Craig has gone East he has not taken the Chamber of Con- merce with him.
The San Francisco call., 1898-11-29

An evening paper states gravely that it had already exposed the crookedness of the ferry depot iob and that the showing of experts Is in the nature of chestnut The important features of this declaration are-rst that IS not true and second that it were true nobody would have known it. What facilities has the Bulletin for exposing anything? To see it is a calamity, to read it accident and to believe it an evidence of paresis
The San Francisco call., 1898-11-29

Sharkeys manager intmates kindly that Corbett may have another chance at his man. But where are the idiots who would pay the gate money?
The San Francisco call., 1898-11-29

The man Brandes accused of the murder of his own daughter IS said to devote much of his time to prayer but ii his idea is to himself discomfort he would better direct his time to gathering funds for some lawyer whose devotion to the high calling of defeating the law is beyond question:
The San Francisco call., 1898-11-29

According to one foreign paper, the notorious Esterhazy has sailed for this country Let us hope for the best. Papers sometimes err.
The San Francisco call., 1898-11-29

Carists declare they will rise against Spain upon the signing of treaty of peace with the United States. Such statement might have been alarming at one time, but bluff decrepit for usage 1t has lost its power to strike terror
The San Francisco call., 1898-11-29

Naturally enough, the Supreme Court granted a new trial to convicted man upon the showing that the trial Judge had not been present throughout the proceedings People are prone to think that a felon has too many privileges, but they do not wish to see him deprived of any rights
The San Francisco call., 1898-11-29

Agunaldo still to cling the idea that he is a bigger man than Otis.