davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05
DISHONESTY IN STREET WORK.


 ~ 1T1ZENS who pay taxes have right to de \ mand that their money shall not be wasted. It
 IS their intrinsic right also to suppose that the officials given authority to expend money collected from property-holders shall be reasonably honest If thls money, instead of being devoted to public i'm pl ovements, IS parceled out among contractors who give no adequate return or sticks to the fingers of Supervisors, surely they have the privilege of mak- ing protest.
 For several days The Call has been engaged in showing that the money presumably devoted to pay ing IS not honestly expended. It has shown that favored contractors have been permitted to begin work without having bid for it, and that the work has not been properly performed. Alamo Square serves as an illustration. Here the work was done without any bids having been called for Naturally the contractor found difficulty in collecting. Then this late hour, with the work such it was com pleted, bids were called for As matter of course no new contractor could come in and make bid which would involve the tearing up of the work al- ready in place and compete with the original con tractor. Nevertheless one bid was lower than that of the Street Committees favorite This would never do; it would lead to exposure So the lower bid by some hocus-pocus, was knocked out.
 On portion of Third street contract has been let to Finn & Treacy, in which they are to be al- lowed more TOT paving than is to be allowed TOT a portion of Market street. yet in the former there is lot of bitumen which is generously thrown in by the city, and the concretng is already done. On Market street the includes the concrete, and the contractors furnish all of their material Why this difference? The answer can come only from the Street Committee of the Supervisors. This com mittee has full charge of such improvements The Superintendent of Streets is merely executive off carrying out its instructions Where there is crooked work of the of which these examples samples, this committee is responsible. Members of the committee have chosen to ignore their obliga- tons to be honest. The proof has in part been pub ished. There is of it to come. While general curiosity has been excited there is one body em- powered to put questions and demand answers Ref erence is had to the Grand Jury. There can be no for the fragrant violation of the trust imposed upon this particular committee of the Supervisors Yet whatever they may say will receive all the atten ton it deserves The Street Committee of the Super visors is rotten of the pavement put down by its orders. No statement could we'll be phatic. The public desires to know if there is not remedy for this state of affairs, if swndling is to be tolerated because done under the color of law if plain violation of the statutes cannot be checked when the vioaters have been exposed
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05

van Smith of New York. are among those who arrived in the city yesterday ana registered at the Palace.
 Edward Chambers. general 1reigne agent of the Santa Fe at Los Angeles. ond W BisseIl. assistant general freight and traffic manager. who have been attending the meeting of the Trans continental Freight Bureau at Del Mons'f, and San Jose, are at the Palace wheI I tha,, vii, remain for a few days before returning to their respective homes,
 Collis P. Huntington. president or the Southern Pacific. is in the city. having come to attend the meetings or the ui- rectors of the road of which he IS presi- dent which occurs on the 7th Of this month. and also the meeting of the Cen, tral Pacific directors. which is scheouieo for the 12th MT. Huntington VIII reiiiali on the coast about four or SIX "eeh1, y,9.. e inc over tha line as far north as Port land, and will probably visit ana lnspeo' the work on the coast division al Suli'
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05
A CHANGE IN JURY DRAWING.

TT HE change in the method of drawing juries
 suggested by Code Commissioner Shanahan in
 recent interview should receive full considera- ton at the hands of bench and bar The plan he pro- poses is to place the names upon the jury lists tirey in the hands of the Superior Judges, each being represented in the clerks box by number. When in impaneng jury, number is drawn, the court itself is to identify and announce the name. Mir Shanahan and his fellow Commissioners think this system will effectually prevent the manipulation of the jury lists Somebody must be trusted with the of jurors, and it is the opinion of the Code Commission that no better persons can be found than the Judges of the courts
 It is not difficult to concur in this theory Judges generally men of sound education. They well versed in the art of reasoning and they understand the importance litigants and themselves of having legal disputes fairly tried and adudicated according to the rules of law As general thing they are high minded men and desire to the law honestly ad ministered. If the jury lists to be intrusted to anybody therefore it is quite probable that the Su perior Judges will be their safest custodians.
 A great deal of the complaint that is made con- corning jury manipulation is due to the fact that the names of jurors drawn by county clerks or their deputies. These officials are usually politicians, and whether they honest not there is always suspicion that they will either through neglect or design, permit interruptions lawyers to tamper with the jury lists Probably in nnety-nne out of hundred there Is foundation for the charge that jures are fixed It is the habit of disappointed liti gants to charge not only jures, but Judges, with ruption. No matter how unjust may be liti- gants are as rue unable to perceive that they in the wrong
 Nevertheless this is powerful reason for adopting the reform suggested by Code Commissioner Shana- han If the jury lists placed in the hands of the Judges, and the clerk is permitted only to draw num- bers, it will be difficult for anybody to manipulate jury through the County Clerks office At all events the suggested change should receive thorough con sderation at the hands of bench and bar Whatever the lawyers and Judges decide upon will probably be adoDted by the Legislature
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05
 PERKINS TAKES TIE AMER ICAN VIEW

HE speech of Senator Perkins delivered yes "~ erday will be indorsed by the people of Califor .:-E nia. Indeed, they had already. far poss- .ble. placed themselves record as uphoding the sopsments he expressed. The Senator said frankly tast the sinking of the Maine act of war, and that by passing 1t incident this country would become accessory to an unexampled crime Ehe. truth could not have been more directly told
 This paper has insisted that the destruction of the : batte-ship one legitimate pretext for hos .tIlties While the struggle strictly between Spain and her subjects the way open however much the conditions might have appealed to human ityyior outside power interfere But by treach- ey, for which history affords precedent Spain opened the way. She gave the right to make : the fight Such 1t IS destined to be. The Maine cannot be thrust aside. Its bleaching bones and the manner in which they sent to the bot tom of Havana harbor constitute the great issue Our lrrdered dead call for redress It IS cheering to see
 e Californian Senator graspng the situation and backward about expressing his views, even though these may conflict with that peculiar idea which holds tfe.destruction of the Maine have been thing to beforgoten, and the bangs of Cuba the only appeal to:our intervention and our force of arms.
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05

Having solved the long locked mystery of the interior of the Dark Continent" the exploration of Central Asia has be- come the principal object of interest for geographers.
 The medial part of the Asiatic continent embraces immense tracts of yet unknown country, very difficult of access, the study of which offers the greatest interest from every point of view.
 Between Siberia and India on the one part of the Trans-Caspian steppes and the sandy deserts of Western China on the other, the vast region stands like colossal fortress whose ramparts are formed by the highest mountain chains of the world. On the south is the enor nous 'relief' of Thibet stretching be- tween the high Hanks of the Himalayas the Karakorum and the Kuen-Luen Mountains. To the north along the southern frontier of Siberia the Thian- Shan range stretches its mighty heights to length three times greater than that of the Alps. On the west, in Afghanistan, is the impossible Hindoo Koosh range. All these find themselves united in the mountainous mass of the ''Pamirs,'' which geographers have justly denominated "The Roof of the World" No other defi milton could be so representative and so suggestive.
 In all this zone the numberless peaks rise to extravagant heights. The average altitude of Thibet Is over 14,000 feet, while many peaks in and about 1t rise to double that height Yamisankar and others on the south going 1000 feet higher still.
 This huge complex system of noun tains separates the most powerful empires of the world. Russia, China and the Anglo-Indian. The natural routes from Russian Turkestan to China are over the passes of the Thian-Shan. while on the crests of the "Pamirs' and the Hindoo Koosh must be fought the coming duel between England and Russia knowl- edge of this region is therefore of the highest importance to statesmen as well as geographers and naturalists, and every step in its exploration must be viewed with interest by the general public.
 On this account the very important ex-
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05
MARKET-sTREET IMPROVEMENTS.

n CORRESPONDENT who comments the / course of The Call in opposing any extensive expenditures for repaving Market street until and other underground works along the street have been provided, directs attention to an i'm provement which should be made at without waiting for the more elaborate undertaking This is the elevation of the eastern end of Market street to the official grade, making it correspond with the side walks along that portion of the thoroughfare.
 Our correspondent points out that as the sidewalks the grade fixed by the city, while the roadbed has been left its former level the walks about two feet higher than the road. This is not only an inconvenience to pedestrians but in some respects is positively dangerous as the street is brought up to the level of the walks by very sharp angle, and in wet weather the basalt blocks slippery.
 AS the end Of Market street is the point at which the great tide of travel into the city 1t is manifest that the work of improving the thorough fare should begin there Moreover, correspondent is right in saying that an improvement consisting solely in the elevation of the roadbed to the official grade need not be made to wait for complete and comprehensive work of sewering and paving.
 If any one should be injured by reason of tle steep decline from the level of the walks that of the some might be made to pay heavy in damages and 1t would therefore be economy to raise the roadbed to the proper grade at with out waiting for injuries and damage suits.
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05
THE FLOOD SEASON IN THE EAST

ID the fearful disaster which swept away a h village along the banks of the Ohio in Illinois - the Eastern people made aware that their spring has returned the snows melting the frozen
 rivers have changed from ice living waters and the tornado and blizzard has given place to that of freshets and floods
 It IS but a short time ago that in California were called upon to sympathize with the dwelle-s in
 portion of the East swept by blizzard that after freezing several States in its onward rush wound up by doing damage to the amount of S2oooooo in the single city of Boston, and must prepare for annual commiseraton of all who live anywhere near the Mississippi, the Missouri or the Ohio. We hardly have time to enjoy our Pacific Coast happiness because frequently called upon to be sorry for dolorous disasters beyond the Rockies
 It might be wondered why there is not every year large exodus of people from the blizzard blasted flood devastated East this land of perennial sun shine and mildness were it not so well known that of all minds choose the ills they have rather than
 fly to others they know of The average Fastener IS persuaded that California is very close to Hades that earthquakes frequent and that every hot spring bos up with birthstone fumes from the pits of Tartarus. He prefers to take his chances with roaring winds and raging rivers to coming to land which he believes to be at all times in danger of being swallowed up in the abysses of the earth.
 Our recent temblor which served the excel lent purpose of testing tall buildings and proving their security, while shaking down a Government structure two and giving us an assurance of another appropriation from the national treasury to put money into circula- ton here has been exaggerated in the East to some thing terrible Yet more destruction done to property and more lives swept away by the rampage of the Ohio along the Illinois line on Sunday than by all Californian earthquakes put together The earth quake in fact is bugaboo, but the blizzard and the flood are dire realities.
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05
is yours, I replied, and the sale was

is yours,' I replied, and the sale was made.
 ''The company of which the gentleman was the head put up mill and all the other necessary adjuncts of a first-class plant and started to work the property under the name of the Grizzly Flat Min ing and Milling Company. I lost sight of the venture for several years. until one day, meeting the purchaser of my property on the streets, 1 asked him how his property had come out. It came out splendidly,' replied he. We sunk all the money we could scrape together in put ting up the necessary works for develop ing it and after working it for a couple of months and getting nothing but expec- tations, cloud burst came along and carried the entire plant so far out we have never seen 1t Since'
 w. D. Shea of New York is at the Pal ace.
 B. F. Randolph. U. S. A., is at the Occidental
 B. Crustafsan of Spreckels is a guest at the Occidental.
 John F. Carrere of Los Angeles is stay ing at the California.
 J. B. Peaks, a hotel man of Santa Cruz, Is a guest at the Palace.
 E. Meyhen has come down from Chico and Is staying at the Grand.
 State Senator Thomas Flint of San Juan Is a guest at the Palace
 F. w. Groth of Sacramento is at the Baldwin accompanied by his wife.
 D. H. Arnold of Colusa is one of last nights arrivals at the Occidental
 D. D. Witbeck a capitalist of Sacra- mento, is registered at the Grand
 M NJ. Miller, a fruit man of Fresno. Is one of the late arrivals at the California.
 Governor l.. V. Stephens of Missouri who has been visiting the coast left the Palace last night to return to his home
 Thomas Baker. wife and family, of Utica, N. Y., and MT. and Mrs. F. Sulli-
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05
THE MASONIC FESTIVAL.

E-G ROM the progress that has been made in pre- T.. pairing for the Masonic festival to be held early & :: in May ample assurances are given that 1t will be one of the successful entertainments of the kind ever held in the State. A interest is taken in the enterprise by the entire Masonic fra terllty throughout the commonwealth, and there will =be<no lack of energy, skill taste in promoting it.
 As the object of the festival is to raise funds for the esabshment of institution of education and ben evolence which will be important addition to the higher charitable foundations of the State it is de- setng the attention and tn help of the people gene Faly, well of the organization having it in charge. Even when considered as festival merely without regard to the object for which it is desig- mated it merits cordial cooperation for it will add much to the joy of the May in San Francisco and give to our people and our visitors opportunity flor a week of genuine delight California is much given to festivals of this kind They are held all over the State and all seasons of the year. and consti- tue of the salient features of our social life Every county and almost every town and village has one to gladden. the lives of its people and attract visitors during the sprngtme and early sum- Iner. Common they are, however they never be- come flat, stale unprohtable We can never have too many of them It will neither hurt us at home nor our repute abroad to make California land of an uninterrupted succession of festivals
 We have climate and soil that furnish flowers for joyous etes all the year round, and we have people capable of approaching the advantages which nature has thus bestowed It is right that we should make of this source of pleasure add to our accom- plishments in the works of benevolence to which we 1re called For that can all of us look for ward with qualification the Masonic festival as to an opportunity to have week f revery ourselves and to aid in promoting through great organization the welfare of widows and orphans for all time to : come.
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05
COLLECTED TN
 THE CORRIDORS.

D. W. Evans, mill man of Eureka, is at the Grand.
 E. c. Merritt of Santa Rosa Is guest at the California.
 L. P. Wardle of Virginia City, New, Is registered at the Grand.
 Karl F. Miller of Orc Blanco, Arizona. is guest at the Palace.
 J. J. Hebbron, a cattleman of Salinas, Unregistered at the Grand.
 J. H. Riddle. large fruit grower of San Jose, is a guest at the Grand.
 A. P. Crose. a large business man or Los Angeles, is at the Baldwin.
 H. King McHaig of New York Is at the Palace, accompanied by his wife and son.
 George F. Burnas and wife arrived in the city yesterday from Utica N. T., and went to the Palace.
 Prosecuting Attorney Reynolds left for Los Angeles to-day to attend meeting of the normal school directors.
 w. Young of Adelaide. Australia, ar rived at the Palace yesterday from the East. He is on his way home.
 pr. James McLane, one of New York' prominent physicians, Is at the Palace, where he arrived yesterday, accompanied by his wife.
 H R. Bernard ex-secretary of the lone Industrial School, arrived in the city yes terday from Sacramento and registered at the Grand.
 I. J. Flynn will be the new storekeeper and purchasing agent of the State liar bor Commission. vice H. w. Peterson' who has resigned.
 Cyrus Curtis, publisher of the Ladies Home Journal of Philadelphia, IS at the Palace on pleasure trip througnout the different cities of the Pacific Coast.
 At the Occidental are registered W: E. cooL s. Cook, A. Martin and G. Nor r,s of I<lamathon The entire party are visiting the city for pleasure and recera- fiOn
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05
O O O 0 O o o Q Q O a HOW THE O
 0 "GRIZZLY MINE" o o TURNED OUT. o O o
!, O O O o 0 0 o o (

V v V yeSttIQdy, tidl gentleman told the following rather good story concerning a little mining venture of his own which took place many years ago.
 ''In all my business career" said Mir. Huntington, "I have never had anything to do with mines or mining stock, and the only property of that character 1 have ever possessed has been forced upon me in payment of debts by men who had nothing else to offer in the way of set clement.
 'I remember many years ago I became, in this manner. the owner of a valuable bit of mining property called the 'Griz- zley Flat Mine AS soon as it came into my possession I looked around for pur- chaser. and soon found one in the person of the head of new company which had been organized for the purpose of de- veloping just such property. I offered the mine to this gentleman for the mod est sum of s10000. He refused to consider it. Then I came down to 5000. He said he had decided not to buy it at all. Yes you will said. when tell you you can have it for $500 I would take it that price, he answered. The Grizzly mine
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05
GRAB A GUN

He who hesitates Is lost
 Grab a gun, Do not stop to count the cost
 Grab gum The handwriting all can read, Cuba's children die for feed It is time for Spain to bleed
 Grab gun! Do not fear to dare and die
 Grab gun! Do not pause to question why@
 Grab a gunl Hear the cry of souls dismayed Asking Justice. long delayed; God Is with us. who's afraidr
 Grab a gun! Bid adieu to those you love
 Grab a sun! Put your trust in Him above
 Grab gunl Bid your throbbing heart be stilL Let your hand obey your will, Keep your nerve and shoot to XIV
 Grab guni Children starve on Cuban soil
 Grab guni Shackled are the hands of toll
 Grab a gum For the ones who cry for bread, Let the sea with blood run red
 Grab guni
 -Bixby, in Lincoln Journi
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05
ALL HEROES NOT WAR MADE.

There is a maxim, Tt is sweet to die for ones country" It Is still better to live for it. and bless it by good works in every field to which you are called. There are heroes in the home as well as on the battle-neid, and they should always be in harmony. Heroes can never be expected upon the battle-fields when there are not heroes and heroines in the homes of the land. Ine one creates the other.
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05
THE MIXED CHRISTENING.
Chicago News.

As the warship Kentucky started for the sea last Thursday a number of Ken tuclxians near by smashed a dozen bottles of old bourbon against the vessels side. thus indicating their disapproval of Miss these impetuous Southerners rocked not the consequences. for now they do not dare go home, well knowing that no man will be tolerated in Kentucky who dares mix whisky with water. Mig as well blow froth from a glass of beer in Mil- waukee and expect to keep on living there fin peape
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05

William F. Norton, the eccentric mil- lionaire. who owns the Auditorium The ater in Louisville, Ky, and who manages if under the name of Daniel Quilp, cleared ' cents a bushel on 1000, 900 bush els of wheat during the last jump in prices.
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05
NOTES ABOUT NoTABLEs.

Vice Admiral Makarow of the Russian navy is on his way to this country to look into American ice-breaking ferryboats. The Russians want to keep some of their harbors open in the winter.
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05

A choice present, Townsend's California Glace Fruits, 50c 10, in fire-etched boxes. .
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05

CALIFORNIANS IN NEW YORK.
 NEW YORK, April 4.-S. G. Buchpee oA San Francisco is at the Manhattan. a;. drew Bogart of San Francisco is in Parls'
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05

BROWNS BRONCHIAL TRocHEs'' will quickly relieve Bronchitis, Asthma, Catarrh and Throat Diseases. Sold only in boxes
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05

DR. SIEGERT's ANGoSToRA BIrTERs Is in dorsed by physicians and chemists for purity Don't be defrauded by accepting substitute
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05

Special Information supplied daily to business houses and public men by the Press Clipping Bureau (Allens), 510 Mont gomery street. Telephone Main 1042.
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05

Tn a general conversation con- corning the Klon- dike gold fields, which occurred in the office of c. P. Huntington
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05

Constitutional provisions are said to be in the way of the ruler of Spain disposing of Cuba It will be borne in mind however, that this country does not feel particularly bound by the Spanish constitution
The San Francisco call., 1898-04-05

It is cheering to observe that the ministers are frank enough say from their pulpts that the time for Spain to get licking seems to be here. These gentlemen not purely theorists. More than one of them have carried army muskets, and they act as though they would do it again if necessary.