New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-15
TOPICS IN CALIFORNIA.
STIMULUS TO TRADE BY ACQUISITION
OF PHILIPPINES-HEAV RAlNS-Dh.
WHEELER WARMLY GREETED.

lBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNEl
San Francisco Oct 14.-Every one who has
visited San Francisco this year has been I'M
pressed with the great increase OF business ac-
tivity and the signs Of prosperity and growth
which are seen on all sides This is largely due
to the immense stimulus given to the Oriental
trade by the acquisition Of the Philippines and
the large trade fostered by the war. There have
been no complaints OF lack Of employment this
year In fact labor is so scarce that much OF
the railroad construction has been abandoned
for lack Of men, and the fruit growers nave
complained Of inability to hire skilled labor for
gathering and packing their harvest. Mer-
chants are carrying larger stocks, and all report
q great increase in orders. In shipping there is
q scarcity of tonnage. and In the Oriental trace
there has been an unprecedented boom STA
,istics show this revival Of trade better than any
general statements.
The total clearings for September were
SS1353 436 against S69S72 S35 for the same
month last year. a gain Of S13'5Ooon The IN
crease Of business over last year is fully - per
cent Exports last month were Si.4H'SZ. an
increase Of S4473s3 the same month OF
last year These were exclusive of Government
exports Ten Government transports sailed ror
Manila last month, carrying merchandise worth
81 125 600. In nearly all lines OF business q SUD-
stantial increase Is shown. and in groceries,
boots and shoes. pork meats and canned sooos
the demand has been so great that in many IN
stances it could not be supplied
The storm which began on Thursday evening
was the heaviest in October in California In flfty
years The rainfall in San Francisco was one
and one half inches The rain was general from
Shasta 10 san Diego. In the southern countess
where the drouths excessive. about three
tenths Of a. inch was the average fall. Inc
most cheering sign Is that the snow lies heavy
on the mountains near Riverside and san Ber-
nardno. showing that water for irrigation Will
be plenty Throughout the Sacramento and San
JOAQUIN valleys many vineyard owners would
have suffered great loss had it not been for the
warnings Of rain from the Signal Service off,
GER Meade. These warnings gave time 10 cover
raisins and drying fruit. that the loss is
limited to grapes on the vines and to late
wheat
The death Of Warden Aull Of Folsom Prison
this week removed a man who had become ia
nous throuehout the Pacific Coast for his hand
ling Of desperate cOnvicts Aull was a big.
powerful man, who was fearless. and at the
same time kind and just. He got his training
as Sheriff and demonstrated that he would
take any risk to capture or subdue crimi-
nails For twelve years he ruled Folsom Prison,
and in all that time there was never any sue
cessful Jail break nor any revolt against his
authority. All the most desperate convicts were
assigned to him but they were never heard OF
again until their release, for the Warden abso-
lutely prohibited any interviews with prisoners
or any newspaper notoriety. For several years
Chris Evans, notorious train robber, has
been in the Folsom Prison. but he has been
model prisoner, although before his removal 10
that place he swore that no jail would hold MN
Folsom Jail furnished strong contrast TO san
Quentin where instructions occur periodically
prisoners insult and defy the Warden and opium
is smuggled in regularly.
The picturesque slope Of Mount Tamapais OPP
roste to San Francisco, was the scene this week
Of a destructive forest fire. which destroyed
several pretty suburban villages near Mil Val.
ley, and burned much live oak and redwood
forests. The rain finally eXtinguished the nanes
which a small army of fire fighters had vainly
struggled with for several days. Down In the
Santa Cruz Mountains forest fires also did much
damage, burning over country dotted with
small fruit farms and vineyards. The lack Of
water after q long dry season prevented success
full coping with the fires but in one case large
winery was saved by using 10000 gallons OF
newly made wine an eXtinguisher The VINE
was pumped from the watts, and then forced
through pipes upon the fames
Much regret was expressed by the Custom
House officials this week when the news came
from Yokohoma Of the suicide while temporarily
insane, Of Pom Him, a well known Chinese mer-
chant OF San Francisco. His health had failed
and he started for China, but as the steamer
left Yokohoma he jumped overheard and was
drowned Pom was the soul OF honor In bust
ness and his word good as his BOND
He was active for years in the import business
Of a large Chinese firm in which he was a
partner
Dr. Benjamin Ide Wheeler the new president
Of the State University received great recep-
ton on his visit this week to Stanford Uni
versity. When he arrived on the campus ne
heard the Cornell yell given TO make him feel al
home and the chapel could not hold the stu.
dents who thrOnged TO hear him. lie oenVeFeo
fine address. urging the Stanford students t(
feel q pride in the State University and 10 ale
in the good work Of education In California. H'
dwelt especially on the importance OF the lorna
ton Of character IN the university. and the vita
necessity of getting from the university ina
stimulus which will sustain the student In th
pursuit Of knowledge and that insight h''
knowledge that gives power
u The police have no good clew to the bold THE
II who stol- 81 900 in Government coin from mes
songeg's wagon in broad daylight on a crowded
street. The man whom they arrested proved
satisfactory alb. but Is still held. After week
Of work there is also no trace Of the men VIII
stole $4,000 from the treasurer OF an Australa
steamer probably at sydney while the gold wa
being taken on board
The theatres all playing old pieces thi
week and the only calling for any common
Is the California. where Miss ONeil attempte
comedy in Peg Wellington" This young Call
fornia aetrcss has won praise Tor her grea
dramatic power. but in the comedy role Sd
rr0yed failure. she lacks lightness an
humor. The Columbia has the roaring farce
"Hoiel Topsy rurvy." with Eddie" Foy and hi
COMPANY and the other houses are giving oil
pieces newly furnished up.
TIL. Croker Beet Sugar Company has lease
1900 acres OF Magic Burke lands on one OF III
Islands in the san Joaquin River and next sea
ecn will plant tract of beets. The crop can |
removed entirely by water. thus saving fnuc
expense