The San Francisco call., 1899-04-07

DAWSON, March Is (via Seattle, April
6)-The fire on the water front on Thurs
day morning, which destroyed several
more of the substantial structures built
there, caused a loss that is estimated at
1000, the principal sufferers being we'll
known San Franciscans. Mrs. Adcock's
two-story building and the entire stock,
valued altogether al $4,000, were destroy
ed. Mrs Adcock for twenty years kept
a millinery store on Kearny street, near
Market. She and her husband barely
escaped with their lives, being aroused
from sleep in the upper story after the
house was in flames. They came in last
spring.
The small store of Mrs. Frank Fancher
was destroyed and only a portion of the
stock saved. The loss is about $1,000.
Frank Fancher was a commission mer-
chant in San Francisco and later was
clerk in one of the departments at the
City Hall Mr.. and Mrs. Fancher arrived
in the fall of 1897.
This is the third disastrous fire on the
water front within a period of three
weeks. Commissioner Ogilvie has now
served formal notice on the tenants that
they will have to move, buildings and all,
Immediately following the 1st of May The
occupation of the water front has been
the occasion of the same confusion and
cry of corruption that have characterized
of the Government in this much-muddled
and altogether distressed country. The
Government last year leased the water
front to Alexander Mcdonald, with rights
to suitcase it. The Government officials
were changed and the present council,
court and commissioners have given the
tenants notice that the lease was unlaW-
full. The tenants some months ago re-
fused to pay their ground rent, ana the
agents of Mcdonald (McDonald being now
in the States) did not crowd them IN the
courts in the fear, it is said, that It
might be shown they had no right 70 col
lect, whereupon all those who had al
ready paid would sue for recovery a
case finally got into court, however, ana
Dugas holding that the tenant had no
right to question the title of landlord
after having become party TO lease.
This has brought greater consternaitlon
along the front than did the several nreS
and tenants are being levied upon all
along the line, elected and sold out Where
tenants of the houses are responsible
under the law or the ground rent. IN
nearly all cases the stores are not occu-
pied by the owners, or at any rate py
the holders of the ground lease. Inc
former have paid their rent regularly 70
the lease holders. but these have not pal9
rent and much distress and embarraSS-
ment are suffered by the StoreKeepeIs;
who, because business has been so bau
are not prepared to pay the rent sec
ond time They are rushing into court on
various pretexts to seek relief.
Almost the same confusion exists con.
cerning the town site property. Last
summer ii was stated authoritatiyelyy
that Harper La Due and Fitzpatrick had
received their patent for the town ste
land. and Major Walsh, then Commits
sIoner. gave notice that he would support
the company with the mounted police IN
keeping squatters from the land. People
who wished to build cabin IN Whlch 10
live without first buying lot were re-
from the river and town. Now it appears
that the patent has not been issued or,
at least, the agents of the company mere
do not know II If 1t has been, ana are
pOWerIess to eject the Squatter once ne
is fairly located. This uncertainty, OF
course, frets the company and the would
be squatter as well, neither knowing ms
rights and both fighting for advantage at
this formative period of the city. Inc
displacement of the people along the
water front will compel them, all business
people. to seek new locations on Second
avenue Titles to vacant lots may come
into question and no END Oh htsatlon De
the result.
Lawsuits in constantly increasing num-
bers are growing out of the muddled con-
dition of the mining records here. Claims
have been recorded that do not exist,
claims are discovered to be overlapping
each other and claims are staked from
one period to another under the constant
ly being changed regulations and under
grants allowed in Ottawa that conflct
with the rights of persons aireauy secured
under the regulations here. Ine CONFUSION
and uncertainty are so great that even
the Canadians are leaving the country in
complete disbursement and disgust, and
all cry alike for the establishment OF a
government here where the laws may be
made by men familiar with the conditions
at which they are directed.
Senator Jere Lynch has just purchased
a bench claim on Adams Hill, on Bo-
nanza, near the mouth of FL Dorado, the
consideration being something like $4,000.
Mr.. Lynch will put large force of men
at work with steam thawers. The claim
is thought to be very rich.
The Northwest Trading Company's
steamer Clara is advertised for sale to-
day to satisfy creditors. This is another
case. of queer management in which San
Franciscans are chiefly interested The
bandmaster Roncovieri brought the boat
in, together with A, Haussler. managing
director of the company last summer
The boat met all sorts of trouble, chiefly
through acknowledgement. and arriving
very late at the Yukon fats her barge