New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-19
TOPICS IN CALIFORNIA.
CONVENTION DISCUSSES GRAVITY OF
THE IRRIGATING QUESTION
IMPROVEMENT IN SOUTHERN PACIFIC SER
VICE SINCE MR.. HUNTINGTON GAINED
CONTROL, - GAS AND WATER

VICE SINCE Mr., HUNTINGTON GAINED
CONTROL GAS AND WATER
STOCKS DECLINE.
ICY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRiBuSEl
San Francisco. Nov. 1S.-one OF the most I'M
portant conventions that has met here for
years was that for the conservation OF the hooo
waters of the State 1t brought together dele
gates from all sections dependent on irrga-
tion and the discussion showed the gravity
of the problems that California irrigatonists
must solve IL they would insure the SAFETY OF
their orchards and vineyards. The last TWO
years have been especially disastrous IN south-
ern California because Of long continued orou'h'
and this seasons supply Of water was so IN
adequate that lawns and flower gardens were
allowed 10 dry I'D in order that the scanty
stool. of water might be used 10 keep alive the
orange groves and orchards Of other fruits
The great increase of acreage In oranges ana
lemons has led to enormous consumption oi
water for irrigation. and 1t is plain that uhless
food waters are caught and stored IN GAINS /"
the mountains many thousand acres plahteu
10 fruit will have to be abandoned. Inc coii-
vention favored the storage of water by '"e
National Government. but II such aid cannot
be secured. then by State aid or by prNd'e
enterprise. 1t also favored leasing public graz
storage reservoirs and it also favored inclusion
IN forest reserves OF all public timber land above
beadvaters Of rivers and creeks. water ana
forest association was formed TO carry out me
plans of the convention
The absorption by c p. Huntington or the IN
terests Of Mrs Stanford and the Crockers IN
The Pacific Improvement Company. in addition
10 their holdings OF Central Pacific Railroad
stock has caused much comment here. as II rs
taken TO indicate his purpose to begin new
nol,cv Huntington has always asserted that
Tho lavish display Of wealth made by his old
California partners and their sons In the rail-
road injured the interests Of the company ana
stimulated that bitter anti-railroad feehhg
throughout California which always arouses the
wonder of Eastern visitors As he Is now IN
supreme control of the entire Southern PACING
company and all its allied lines. he will prob
ably see 10 It that his ideas OF economy e1-
fciency and good service 10 the public are car
ried out by every one connected with the rail-
road Certainly since he became president ne
has done great deal to improve the road by
putting on fast special trains. by cutting down
the time of the regular service and by furnish
ing better cars especially for second class travel
Water gas and electric light stock have all
been influenced by the near approach OF the en-
forcement Of the new charter, which provides
specifically for the acquisition OF the public
utilities Within a year after January ] the
City Engineer is authorized 10 furnish estimates
Of the cost of all the public utilities that 1t may
be deemed advisable for the city to acquire, and
every two years similar report Is TO be fur
nished. AS water and light are the first of these
utilities that will be secured the stocks or these
companies have fallen. Spring Valley Water
otod Of n
September is now 81. and it has recently
dropped as low as %. San Francisco Gas and
Electric Light Company which stock was
quoted early this year at 80. began to shrink
months ago. In September II reached o.. Inc
last Of October It sank TO 81. and now II is 90.
The fact that all of these companies are heavily
overcaptalized and that the city cannot afford
TO pay the market price Of shares has led TO
this shrnkage, which is sure to go on until
stocks have reached their actual value.
General Miles this week reviewed eight thou
sand troops at the Presidio and the military
snectacle was one of the finest ever seen on this
coast The weather was IDEAL The parade
ground was free from dust. and the men showed
much proficiency in drilling Generals Miles and
shafter rode down the lines Of each battalion
inspecting II. After the review Colonel Free
man, Of the Oath Infantry, commandant at the
Preside, gave a reception In honor Of General
and Mrs Miles and General Shafter.
There is nothing new or noteworthy at the
the Alhambra with "A Lady Of Quality" Both
the Columbia and the California are given over
to farce-comedy, why Smith Left Home be
ing given at the former and What Happened
to Jones" being presented at the latter by Harry
Corson Clarke and his company.
Dr. ]. II. Stallard. we'll known physician OF
Menlo Park, died this week at the age Of sew
anty-eight years. His country home at Menlo
was of the prettiest in the State.
At Palm Springs the famous resort for con-
sumptves the edge OF the Colorado desert
lied this week Andrew Donahue Martin at the
Early age Of twenty-three years. Martin had
/ tuberculosis but managed TO avoid death by
establishing his home at Palm Springs where
he dry air healed his lungs. Last fall, how
ever he came here. and seven weeks ago
married 10 Miss Genevieve Goad. On HIS honey
moon at Santa Barbara he was attacked by his
Did complaint. and FASTENED to Palm Springs,
out the disease had regained too firm grip on
him. and he died suddenly. His fortune OF half
million dollars is left absolutely to his young
wife.
Another sale Of waterfront property south
of Market-st marks the rapid improvement OF
this section. The block bounded by First Bry-
ant Fremont and Brannan SITS. sold by the
Pacific Coast Improvement Company. formerly
the Oregon Improvement Company. TO ]. p.
Lloyd, an Eastern man. for $3.50 900. 1t has
been covered for years by lumber yards. but the
new owner viii erect a 100000 brick warehouse