New-York tribune., 1900-07-29
TOPICS IN CALIFORNIA.
SEMI-CENTENNIAL OF CALIFoRNIA-NEw
JAPANESE MINISTER
rBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TR1BuNE.I

lBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRBUSEl
San Francisco, July 2S.-The celebration of the
emi-centennial Of Californa's admission into
ME Union will be one of the finest pageants ever
seen in the State. The big parade of various
orders of Native Sons which will take place
September TO- Will be the main event OF the
four days celebration. The feature OF this
parade Will be the number of floats representing
scenes in early California history. Among those
who viii be in line Will be several survivors OF
the original Bear Flag" party. United States
soldiers and sailors who may be at this port viii
take part In the parade.
On September s the monitor Wyoming will be
launched at the Union Iron Works by Irving NJ.
Scott, builder OF the famous battleshp Oregon.
The new japanese Minister to Washington,
Kogiro Takahra. spent several days in San
Francisco this week, mainly in investigation
OF the immigration problem and of the ques-
ton Of the claims of his countrymen in Homo
lulu to damages for the destruction OF their
property by fire during the bubonic plague eX-
element The Minister is a skilful diplomat.
and he was cautious in his utterances about the
present trouble in the Orient but it plain
from his guarded words that he looks the
situation extremely serious. He made
excellent impression here by his fairness and
courtesy.
II may be that Julian T. Biddulph-Arnold,
second son Of Sir Edwin Arnold. who is accused
of embezzlement while member Of a firm of
London solicitors. will escape through techni-
calities of law. The prosecution appears to
have great difficulty in gathering proof Of the
charge. and this week the first complaint
dropped. and a charge brought.
Meanwhile Arnold, who is nomnally in
tody Of a Deputy United States Marshal,
spends his leisure in collecting butterflies
the State University grounds at Berkeley.
He is now determined to resist extradition
though a. the outset he agreed to return to
London without making any contest.
H. c. Bush was appointed this week Pacific
Coast agent Of the Colorado Midland Railroad.
Mr.. Bush has been connected with the Santa
Fe traffic department for fifteen years. The
Midland Will make an active canvass for the
freight business from this coast
Elisha Cook. brother of Superior Judge Car
roll Cook surprised his friends this week by
clipping with Helen Roslyn Henry an actress.
we'll known on this coast. They were married
at Stockton.
The Rev. Burt Estes Howard returned this
week from visit to the East. At the opening
of the new college year at Stanford University
he viii take the chair of civics and economics
at the university.
The Henry Miller company, with Miller and
Margaret Anglin vacation. scored hit this
week in the whimsical farce His Excellency
the Governor" Next week at the Tivou will
begin a season of Italian Opera at popular
prices.
Among the singers are several of the Italian
company, which had great success here last
year the Alhambra. Among them are Sa-
lassa. Avedano, Nicolini and Ferrari and Sig
nora Repetto.
The prune crop Of California will not be nearly
so large at first reported, because Of the al
most unprecedented dropping Of the half ripe
prunes Many orchardists also report an un-
usual percentage Of blighted fruit The heat
has forced maturity OF all fruit. From South
ern California reports are discouraging in re-
gard TO deciduous fruit. the crop being small
and OF poor quality, owing to drouth.
The marriage of Lieutenant Harris Laning
this week at Santa Barbara Miss Mabel
Nixon, daughter of Thomas Nixon of that
place. was very pretty, the National colors
were reproduced in the floral decorations lieu
tenant Lanng. after visit 10 his parents at
Petersburg IL. win report at Washington for
shore duty
Yuma, Ariz visited this week by a de-
structiYe fire, which swept over one whole block
on the main business street and caused a loss
OF $4,000 Lack of water in the reservoir pre-
vented the of the big centrifugal pumps
for lifting water from the Colorado River.