Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-21
TALK IN A PULLMAN SMOKER
THINGS HEARD ON TRIP FROM
WASHINGTON TO SAN FRANCISCO.
Conversation About Cotton Mills, Race
Problem, Mines, Politics and
MeteOrOlOgy.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.


SAN FRANCISCO, May IA, 1900.
A transcontinental trip is an education IN
itself Five days in Pullman smoker.
with free and easy talk with a constantly
changing crowd of busy men. gives an
insight into thousand and one subjects of
varied and fascinating interest.
The cotton belt of the south is flourish
ing wonderfully; fifty new mills were built
during the first ninety days Of 1900 New
England mill men tried to stop the sales
of machinery. but asnew mandatory was
started in Montgomery. These mills en-
ploy women and girls very largely-white
people, whose manual skill Is greater than
that of colored people. The result is to fill
the towns with whites and force negroes
out in the country, a good thing for their
health, morality and happiness. The south
looks for a big marget in China, and for
that reason is for expansion. Difficult 70
vote republican, while great majority of
negroes vote that way. The proposed modi-
fication of the fifteenth amendment. or at
least the proposed educational and proper
ty qualifications for voters. the southern
people think. will be the salvation of the
south including both whites and blacks.
New Orleans impresses strangers as me-
diaeval and behind the times. Cypress
swamps like the Dismal swamp of Vir-
ginia, can be seen from the car windows
as you pass through Louisiana. The young
sugar cane Is above foot or two high and
very promising. The floods have caused
considerable damage In that state and
Texas. but nothing very serious.
Mexico's Prosperity. .
Mexico is attracting many Americans.
The government, business and civil order
are as good as in the states. Diaz. it Is
said, wants to give up the presidency, and
this term will probably be his last. Gov.
T. S-l-
to return to the states, after twenty years
Of exile in Batopilas, 800 miles from no
where. Mr.. ]. B. Magruder and his charm
ing wife are pleasantly situated at Hermo-
Sillo, Sonora.
The Mexican Central is rapidly complet-
ing its line to reach the Pacific at Manzanu-
10. An English contractor Is rebuilding the
Tehuantepec railroad and will have q line
running opposition to the Panama railroad.
Unique Bridal Trip.
How Is this for a bridal trip? A young
couple went to Flagstaff, Ariz., bought
couple of big wagons and teams of mules,
hired couple Of teamsters and a good
cook and started south for Phoenix. The
principal wagon was rooted with canvas
and wire gauze. with every comfort. and
the trip Is described as ideal. No flies or
mosquitoes. good hunting. and the light of
love- combining with that from moon and
STARS Upon dITiVdl DIT fuO6ulx the wagons
were sold at an advance, and the couple
proceeded by rail to Los Angeles, in search
of new adventures. They may return via
Japan and India
Oil Fever In California.
The oil fever is raging in southern Cali
fornia. At Santa Barbara, Los Angeles,
Bakersfield, ETC.. the cry IL Oil OH! And
still more oil! A few years ago a man
loaned six OF seven thousand dollars on a
thousand-acre ranch. To his regret he had
to foreclose and acquire the property. The
oil boom came on and he sold 1t for $4,000.
He now passes for a brilliant financial
genius.
Railroad magnates are fighting the Mica
ragua canal. let who will deny it. 1t won't
affect them for fifteen OF twenty years, but
they have long heads and look to the fu-
ture. Even c. P. Huntington. with his
eighty years. is not yet gutter" and is
in the fight to stay.
This expansion business cuts both ways
on the Pacific coast. Increased trade helps,
but labor is alarmed at possible cheap
competition. Recent japanese immigration
has Increased pubic interest in the matter.
Some say California will go democratic All
admit that it is not sure republican state.
A great deal may happen between now and
November to turn the balance either way.
Amidst the stories of fortunes won and
lost in mines and mining 1t Is refreshing
to hear the excavations poured out on the
heads of the ungrateful wretches who at
the first big strike go back on the wives
who have suffered and struggled with them.
evidently with these men there is clear,
sound sentiment Of right and justice. and
"the mans the gold for a that" is the
motto by which they judge each other. be /
he rich or poor.
Starting from Washington, there was
big high on the weather map up In the
northwest. 1t was interesting to watch. in
imagination, its effect in giving us cool
northerly and northeasterly winds all the
way to Ell Paso. In the deserts further
west we had southerly gales. From a mile
above sea level we came down to 260 feet
below sea level in a couple Of days. The
famed Mojave desert is not much of ter
ror on this road-only an afternoon and
night, and not hot at that
Retain the Philippines.
Sentiment seems to be very strongly for the
retention Of the Philippines. The few who
oppose it are very vigorous and think the
tide of sentiment will turn. Dewey's presi-
Dental aspirations are not taken seriously
anywhere. but he Is popular naval hero
still and thought to be in the hands OF some