New-York tribune., 1900-03-11
TOPICS IN CALIFORNIA.
THE UNFOUNDED PLAGUE SCARE IN
San FRANCISCO-A TWO YEARS
TRANCE-ANoTHER ELECTRIC
POWER PLANT
POWER PLANT.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

week has been the absurd bubon.c plague scare
which was inflicted on the city by excited
Health Board expert For weeks there has been
q menace of the Introduction Of the plague from
Hawaii, but the Federal quarantine officer DR..
Kinyoun adopted such rigid precautions that
the public felt safe Then. like lightning out OF
3 clear sky, came the announcement on Wednes-
day morning that Chinatown was Quarantined
because Of the death OF cody from what was
diagnosed as genuine bubonic plague. The
health officer apparently made no effort through
the Chinese Consul-CIenerai to secure the history
Of the case, but because OF glandular swellings
under the arms and IN the groin he declared the
case so suspicious TO Justify establishing
quarantine over the Chinese quarter. This
meant cooping UP ten thousand Chinese for four
FIVE days. until the meteorological analysis
should show whether the disease was really the
dread plague or not. Ropes We're stretched across
the streets the fringe of the quarter, and
fifty police officers were detailed to that no
one passed. Many restaurant and household
cooks and servants were caught in this trap, but
merchants and the shrewder coolies the
blockade by means of passages over roofs and
secret exits outside the police line. so that the
quarantine soon became farccal. Even the
sabse cars which ran through Chinatown
stopped for day. The Chinese Consul-Gen-
eral. Ho Vow. who is very intelligent and fair
minded man, made strong protest against the
blockade, which inflicted much loss and incon-
venience his people. and 1T lifted yes
terday. when il established what the plague
suspect really died from. The Chinese Consuls
Investigation showed that the man had been
suffering for nine months from disease. and had
recently had a relapse which was followed by
death The quarantine of Chinatown caused 10
alarm here, a similar attempted
last fall. but it injured business, as many
try Were frightened
from making visits to the city
President Benjamin Ide Wheeler Of the Uni
versity OF California reached home this week
from months trip TO Eastern cities and
colleges. He returns with gratifying news of the
strong interest in the East in California and its
university. He declares that President McKin-
ley expressed IN most positive manner his
hdence in the great future OF California, and
that the State Department viii soon announce
important steps for securing this country
share of the commerce OF China In fact, Pres
ident Wheeler declared that the Eastern people
seem TO have a keener sense of the great posi-
bilities of San Francisco trade and development
than Californians themselves.
The selection of Professor Bernard Moses as a
Philippine Commissioner was largely due 10 the
warm personal Endorsement OF President Wheel
er. Professor Moses has held for over twenty
years the cnair or history ana poIltlcal economy
al the University OF California and ne has made
q speciality OF the history and resources OF Span
ish-American countries to the south of us and
OF Japan and China. This fits him peculiarly
,or the duties of Commissioner, and the fact that
he has political prejudices Is in his favor.
The death of Miss Eliza Wilbur this week.
after lying in a trance for month two
years, ends what has been a deep mystery to
the ablest medical men on this coast. Every
thing that science could do to arouse conscious
ness tried without result, for at time did
the patient awake from her unconscious state
The gas that she inhaled appeared to affect her
brain like blow on the head. and the nerves
that control consciousness and the motions of
the body appeared TO be paralyzed Toward the
end Of her long sleep she showed occasional
signs Of consciousness, but she seemed childish,
and nothing coherent could be gained from her.
The autopsy showed inflammation of the inner
or soft membrane of the brain, the conditions
being similar 10 certain of violent insanity.
There was trace OF tuberculosis or tuber-
cular meningitis. Her death due to acute
spinal meningitis. Dr. REM performed an au-
topsy but the family objected to the presence
Of any consulting surgeons. This case has ex-
cited more interest among physicians than any
other on this coast for years.
The fourth annual account Of the guardians
Of the two children Of Colonel Charles Fred
Croker shows that each child is nearly $500. 900
richer than last year in securities and about
the same amount richer in real estate. Young
Charles T. and Jennie A. Crocker are each
worth now over S40000O0. and their estates are
sure 10 increase rapidly in value before their
majority.
Professor Yoshito Takaue, of the chair Of law
in the Imperial University OF Japan, was here
this week studying the two universities Of Cali
fornfa- He sailed for home on the steamer
America Maru. He has been on a trip around
the world to gather suggestions for the estab-
Eshment Of department OF commerce in the
university at Toxic. He has established COM
munication with ali the great commercial or
ganizations Of the world.
Mime. GadsId, David Bispharn and Walter Dam
rosch have had large audiences at their after
noon concerts this week, and Mr.. Damrosch has
also had many interested women at his morn
ing lectures on Wagners Nibeiungen triogy.
Nine. Gadsh was the guest of honor at the
regular monthly meeting of the Sorosis Club
this week There is nothing noteworthy at the
local theatres except the remarkable success Of
Dennnan Thompson in 1.-The Old Homestead" at
the Columbia Theatre. The sale of seats has
been large this week that an extra perform
ance VIII be given on Sunday night. Next week
the New-York company opens in Because She
Loved Him So.''
Over S150,OO0OO0 is now in ffty-two savings
banks OF the State. belonging to 214.2J0 depos-
ttors. making the average deposit SOB, which
is the largest average ever reached in the State
In the nine savings banks of San Francisco
there is 1880, belonging to 14s,013 de-
positors
On the AfcCIoud River In Shasta County will
soon be installed one OF the greatest electric
power plants in California. Fifty thousand
inches Of water Of the McCloud River has been
secured, and this water will be brought in
canal ten feet wide and six feet deep over ten
miles. The plant will be just above the United
States fishery at Baird Many mining COM
panies including the Mountain Copper Com
pany at Keswick, have arranged TO take the
power, and the company starts with contracts
OF FIVE thousand horse power.