New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-18
TOPICS IN CALIFORNIA.
NEW CHIEF OF POLICE IN SAN FRAN
CISCo-HONORS FOR SENATOR
ELECT BARD-TRYING TO
SAVE BIG TREES.
SAVE BIG TREES.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuxE.l

Police OF san Francisco was the election IiiS
week of Colonel William P. Sullivan, Mayor
Phelan's private secretary. The Mayors original
choice for the position Police Lieutenant
Frederick Esola. but ii shown so con-
ciusively that Esola was illiterate and unfit for
the place that his name was withdrawn. one
of the Police Commissioners, William Buggy,
was ambitious 10 fill the place, but he antag-
onized the Mayor and other Commissioners and
forced the resignation of one of the Board
Then the Mayor removed Buggy, appointed eX-
Judge William T Wallace and David 1. Ma
honey to I'LL vacancies, and the new Board
promptly elected Colonel Sullivan. The new Chief
is forty-three years old. He has had fifteen
wears experience in the State militia, and is
familiar with the routine of police affairs. as he
has been the Mayors secretary for three years
Ii is thought he will make good Chief.
The Esoa scandal is believed to have hurt
Mayor Phelan's influence, it revealed that
he had made political bargains which would
not endure investigation.
The receptions given TO the newly elected
United States Senator, Bard. in Fresno. Los
Angeles and Ventura without precedent in
California. People turned out irrespective of
party. and prominent Democrats joined with
Republicans in doing him honor. In Southern
California every one speaks in praise Of Bard.
and at his home, in Hueneme. he is known for
his good works. He is strict Presbyterian and
a temperance man; he built the Presbyterian
Church at Hueneme. and has helped other de-
nominations. Amid all his work he finds time to
act as the superintendent of a Sunday school
and TO give to all worthy objects His hobby is
gardening and he has produced two new vari-
cites Of roses.
Unless something is done very speedily by the
State societies the famous Calaveras grove Of
big trees will be converted into lumber. 1t
leaked out this week that Robert Whitesde, of
Duluth. Wis. a wealthy lumberman, secured in
December a ninety days option the grove
for 100000 paying $1,000 down. Whteside
owns much of the adjoining timber land between
the grove and the Yosemite Valley. Congress
seven years ago was vainly asked TO convert
the grove into a reservation and add il TO Yo-
semitic Park James L. Sperry is the of
the big tree grove. He has lived there forty-five
years. Once it was popular place of resort,
but II is difficult to reach. and lately has be-
come Improbable sperry has tried TO have the
State the Nation purchase the grove, but
without success. Within an area of $500 by 700
feet are ninety-three of the great Sequoia gil
gantia and hundred mammoth sugar
and yellow pines. Thirty-one of the Sequoias
range from go to 325 feet in height, and from
81 by 81 feet in circumference six feet from the
ground. The California Sierra Club and other
societies are endeavoring to secure money to
buy the grove from Whteside and thus prevent
the destruction of one of the great natural won
oers Of California
An Alaska Indian totem pole Is feet high
was added this week to the curiosities in Golden
Gate Park Memorial Museum. 1t was secured
by the Alaska Commercial Company near Fort
MrangeL and was presented by the company to
the museum 1t is carved of a solid cedar
block, with base feet wide and is cut in
many designs of animals and fishes, and finely
painted.
1t has been decided to tax all special railroad
that in the State next month. This rul-
ing will bear heavily on two great fruit COM
panies. the Earl Company and Porter Brothers,
as well as on all railroads operating special cars
to California.
Major George ". Ruthers makes strong de-
NAL Of the accusation against him OF selling
Army bacon falsely condemned while he was in
charge of the commissary department at Jack
sonville. Fla. Major Ruthers bears an excellent
reputation. He ascribes the charges TO miscOn-
ception, just before he took charge at jack
sonville the deputy sold a large lot of con-
demned bacon, but the meat regularly con-
denned, and was sold to the highest bidder.
H f. Huntington. the third vice-president of
the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, this
week announced the purchase of the Carson and
Colorado Railroad, which will give the Southern
Pacific a short line into Southern California.
The Carson and Colorado now from Mound
House, New, TO Keller, Inyo County, Cal. The
road will be made broad gauge, and will connect
with the Central Pacific Wadsworth, New.
1t will be extended from Keller to Mohave thus
avoiding the Tehachap Pass, and giving the
Southern Pacific the shortest and easiest route
into Los Angeles. This road will be
powerful rival Of the extension of the Union Pa
cinc through Southern Utah.
The Viceroy," the comic opera by Her
bert and Smith produced for the first time this
week by the Bostonians at the Columbia, is a
work which viii prove a success when properly
worked into shape. AS il is now, 1t is a half
hour too long. The score by Herbert is full Of
bright melodies and his music does not suggest
half dozen other operas. does that of The
Smuggiers Of Bayadez" Smiths libretto is
amusing. and several Of his songs admirably
done. The opera is staged in sumptuous style,
both the scenery and costumes being rich and
effective
Colonel David L. Smoot VINO died this week at
the age Of sixty-fve, prominent lawyer
here for a quarter of a century He was Vir-
gilman. served in the Confederate Army, and
came TO California in 1876. He District At
torney Of San Francisco for four years term
The Clearing House statement shows re-
markable increase in San Francisco business in
the last year The clearings exceeded those or
1898 by S157 10000, and the total of S9l1-
al5072 Is the largest since the great boom
year of 1876. Much of this increase is due to
Government shipments to the Philippines, but
the general business has been good. with a
rronoise of an excellent year. The only
source of danger is the drouth in Southern
California which has already become menace
10 large acreage in oranges and vines. The
orchards and vineyards, and the system of water
storag In reservoirs must be adopted at once
or many districts will be ruined.