New-York tribune., 1900-03-25
TOPICS IN CALIFORNIA.
NEW CASES OF PLAGUE REPORTED
HEARTY RECEPTION FOR WHITE
LAW REID-ACTIoN AGAINST
HIGHBINDERS.
fsr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNE.]


Health this week announced the discovery OF
several more cases of bubonic plague in China
town. and ordered all Chinese leaving the city
by boat or train to show certificates Of a clean
bill Of health. Meanwhile the Board made q
house to house inspection OF Chinatown, and be-
gan the systematic cleaning Of all unsanitary
houses and yards. Although the experts de-
clared unanimously that several Chinese died
OF true bubonic plague, not a single additional
case found In fact, Chinatown was found
amazingly healthy. The result. however, or the
action in regard TO the Chinese has been to
make Victoria establish a partial quarantine
against San Francisco and to cause needless
alarm in many cities Of this State and coast
Experts who have had experience with bubonic
plague in Chinese cities declare 1t is impossible
that the suspected cases in Chinatown should
have been genuine plague, or others would have
fallen I'll with the disease. In the crowded con-
dition OF the Chinese quarter they say any spor
acic cases OF contagious a malady would
have been impossible. Whatever may be the
facts. there is no ground for alarm. the
health OF the city was never better than now,
and the Chinese quarter is receiving the most
thorough cleaning IL has had for years.
Charter Day at the University Of California
yesterday was made noteworthy by the address
of whiteIaw Reid on questions of the day grow
Reid was introduced by President Wheeler as
one peculiarly fitted by his public services and
his relations to the Administration to speak on
these subjects Mr. Reid had warm recep-
ton. and his address, which brought out the I'M
portant relation of San Francisco and Califor-
MA to the new trade of the Philippines. was
frequently applauded. His clear exposition of
the policy regarding all new acquisitions of ter
ritory as dependencies also brought out much
applause.
The police this week made move In the
war on Chinese hghbinders. They arrested six
Of the most prominent ''hatchet men, and
placed them in Jail to await warrants charging
them with completely in recent Chinese murders.
The officers say they have ample evidence TO
hang the arrested men. who have long been the
terror of the Chinese quarter. 1t is thought this
method of arrestng suspects and bringing them
speedily TO trial will do than anything else
TO break up the blood feuds between rival tongs
noteworthy real estate sale made this
week John Morton's Sons sold to Rudolph
Spreckels fifty-vara lot, on the northwest cor
ner OF Ellis and Taylor sts.. for $4,000.
Edward Poltz who is largely interested IN
Hawaiian sugar companies. will start for New
York next week where he expects to make ar
rangements for listing Hawaiian sugar stocks
well performances this week to large audiences
The reception given to these three artists has
been so enthusiastic to greatly encourage
them and to prove that San Francisco is a gen.
erous patron of good music. There was nothing
noteworthy at the theatres except the opening
of Fischer's concert house in OFarrell-st. ad-
Joining the Alcazar. The auditorium is admir-
ably arranged and concert selections are given
by members of the Lombard Opera Company
Admission is free. and refreshments are served
Paderewski comes next week to the Callfornla
Theatre, and already the sale OF seats mas peeh
large.
Moses J. Church, who founded the irrigation
system Of Fresno County, which has been
model for all other works in the State died this
week at the ripe age Of eighty; Mr- Churcn CIV was
born in Chautauqua County. n. Y. and crossed
the plains to California from Indiana In lSoZ
It was while laying out mining bitches that he
first conceived the idea of irrigating the plains
OF the San JOAQUIN Valley He began work
near Fresno, and in ten years he had one hum
dred miles of canals in operation. To him
than to any other man belongs the credit of es-
tabiishing the rights of the irrigator against
the cattlemen. He lived to see the valley which
was desert in the dry season converted
into one great garden.
The wreck this week of the British ship City
Of Florence on Montara Reef. in Half Moon Bay,
due to the carelessness of the captain, who
fancted he north of the FaraloneS. instead
of thirty miles south, and close in shore. If he
had taken soundings the disaster would not have
happened, the night was fairly clear and no
WAS running The vessel was wrecked not
two hundred yards from the place where the
American ship NeW-1ork went TO pieces TWO
years ago.
blossom festival held this week at the
little town of Saratoga, in the Santa Clara foot
hills Six carloads Of visitors went from this
city and other places, and spent the day driving
through prune and other orchards in full bios
som, and in admiring the lavish display of
flowers in all the farmhouse yards. The festi-
val was so successful that 1t will probably be
made a regular feature.
The mystery OF the disappearance of a rancher
named William Wooton, of Fresno six years
ago, was revived this week by the granting of
power the Public Administrator to settle his
estate. Wooton, who eccentric old Eng
lshman, IL is thought was murdered by Professor
W. A Sanders. who coveted his ranch. Sanders
was last seen with the missing man. and told
improbable story of paying Wooton a large sum
in gold for his ranch and seeing him off a
train. No trace has ever been found of Wooton's
body, which saved Sanders from the gaIlows
but he sent to prison for fifteen years for
the forging OF his victims name to check
Creditors OF Wooton are now endeavoring to
close the accounts Of the estate which passed to
Wooton's brother in Hereford. England
lowed the recent earthquake in San Jacinto
County. in Southern California. tract cover
ing six hundred acres San Jacinto Mountain
and four thousand feet above the level slid
one hundred and fifty feet down the mountain
and filed the small valley with debris Great
masses Of granite were split by crevices four
feet wide and seventy-fve feet deep. The fall
ing mass was upheaved as II fell, giving the
earth the appearance of mighty convulsion
The theory of local geoogists is that vacuum
under the mountain, caused by drawing off
water for irrigation, became filed with gases and
that the explosion of these gases tore through
the crust of the mountain and produced the
earthquake and landslide.
MORRISTOWN NEWS.
Mrs. Blue. wife of Lieutenant Victor Blue in