Mesa free press., 1898-04-29
PACIFIC COAST NEWS
Important Information Gathered
Around the Coast.
ITEMS OF GENERAL INTEREST.
A Summary OF Late Events That Are
Boiled Down to Suit our Busy
Readers.

Inc scarcity or grain In California
has compelled the mills at Stockton to
purchase over 5000 tons of Oregon
grain.
Farmers in the northern section Of
the state report that the hot weather
is doing much damage to hay and past
urage.
1t Is stated in San Francisco that the
rumors of war have caused a marked
decrease in the passenger business to
the Orient.
The directors of the San Francisco
and San Joaquin Valley road have let
contracts for grading at a cost Of
100000 for eleven miles.
General Shafter has received orders
from the secretary of war to send 500
tents from the quartermaster's store in
San Francisco to st. Louis.
In one week the first part of this
month about 400 people returned to
Seattle from Dyea and Skaguay, hav-
ing had enough Of Alaska before get
ting into 1t.
The eighth shipment of English SOW
ereigns from Australia has arrived in
San Francisco, bringing the total to
date up to $18,000,0O0. This is for
wheat, canned goods, raisins, etc.
The steamer Paskhan, which ar
rived at Vancouver last week from
Dyea, Alaska, reports that the search
for bodies in Chilcoot Pass slide has
been finished. Sixty-two bodies had
been taken out altogether.
Seventeen hundred and fifty-four
Island, and the officers are looking for
more. There are many applications for
work at the receiving ship Independ-
ence every day, and few young men
are rejected.
The steamer Paskhan arrived at
Union, B. c., last week with large
number of passengers and thousands
Of dollars worth of dust from the
Klondyke. Ellis, of Montana, has $4O,-
600 in dust. The river is now open for
navigation.
The State university was the recip-
lent of very handsome gift, in the
shape of the Alaska Commercial COM
pany's museum last week. The mus
cum consists Of Alaskan curios and
products, and is by far the finest of its
kind in the world.
Contrary to expectations, Palo Alto
will not campaign a stable of harness
horses this year on the eastern grand
circuit. The entire string is now in
training and is to be sold at public
auction, although the stock farm has
some likely horses, with two prospec-
tive champions.
Police Sergeant Jack Hayes, of San
Francisco, who is organizing the first
company of the proposed regiment Of
"Califronia rangers" is receiving let
ters from all parts of the State, the
writer's being anxious to fight against
Spain if their services are needed. AL
ready number of expert horsemen
and sharp shooters have enlisted.
Two slight shocks of earthquake
were felt at San Francisco last week.
The temblors here were not severe
enough to cause serious damage and
no injurious results have been re-
ported. The shocks were felt in a
number of towns in that part of the
State and are said to have been most
severe at Port Costa, where a number
of large grain warehouses are located.
A special train loaded with brown
prismatic powder has been dispatched
from San Francisco for the Eastern
ship and Notifications. The powder is
of the smokeless order, and has been
manufactured by the California Powder
company. The works of the company,
which are located near Santa Cruz,
have been in operation day and night
for the past three weeks. The mill has
been turning out 25O,0OO pounds every
forty-eight hours.
Letters have been received at San
Francisco from Point Barrow, where
300 ice bound whalers, who sailed from
that port about a year ago, are safely
awaiting the return of the season when
the Arctic seas will open for navigation.
No fear is expressed that there will be
any loss of life on account of scarcity
of food. In fact the timely precautions
that were taken by Charles Brewer,
agent for H. Liebes & Co., in laying in
a big supply of provisions at Point
Barrow have precluded the possibility
of any suffering on the part of the
Whalers.
Pacific coast trade with Russian
ports is increasing. Last week, the
bark Edward May, and the barkentine
Addenda sailed for Vladivostock, with
cargo valued at over $4,000. Of this
sum $31, 800 is represented by flour and
$4,000 by leather, while the Edward
May has 1850 tons of salt aboard. The
two vessels are bound for the terminus
of the Transsiberian railway, and other
ships are shortly to be put on the berth
of the Amoor river. Nearly all the
goods thus sent are used by the Rus
slams along the line Of the railroad at
Vladivostock.
William Mckenzie and D. D. Mann
have arrived at Ottawa, Ont. Their
presence has started all kinds of talk
as to the likelihood of their arranging
with the government for a new daoI for