New-York tribune., 1901-03-24
TOPICS IN CALIFORNIA.
OF OCEANIC STEAMSHIP
Y-CONTROVERSI BETWEEN
PONIATOWSKI AND PHELAN.
Inv TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuNE.l

TaY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE'l
San Francisco. March 23.-Nothing in years
has called out so much bitter comment from
business men as the management OF the ocea''ic
steamship Company, by which an assessment OF
$40 a share was levied and only nineteen days
after a regular dividend had been declared ana
when the stock was quoted at SlO3 snare.
Within one month the stock has dropped as 10"
as $50 share, and with the prospect Oh an
other SO assessment it may so as 10" as *-'
q share The company's official statement this
week was a worse indictment of the directors
than any made from outside. 1t showed that
after gathering in a quarter or nllhon from
the assessment there would still be deficit of
SOL 424 and there is no chance OF any sud
den increase of revenue another assessment is
imperative Added to this is the report that the
now steamers will cost nearly S1,00O,O0O each,
instead of S150O00, as estimated. The loss OF
tho company in running its vessels for the
month ending March 10 was S262S. The de-
mand for economy was met by cutting OH the
Tahiti service. which has failed to pay expenses.
There is talk of a general meeting or the STOCK
holders which will compel the present board OF
directors to resign.
one of the main subjects OF gossip this week
has been the exchange OF amenities between
Prince Poniatowsk and Mayor Phelan over
the Mayors veto of the ordinance permitting
racing at the Ingleside track. The Mayor was
supposed to favor the ordinance, but at the
eleventh hour he sent in his veto. This so dis
Custed Prince Poniatowski that he sold out MS
interests in the Tanforan and Ingeside racing
tracks to Thomas II. Williams, jr., for Soooooo'
In an open letter to his fellow stockholders he
INDUCED in some acrimonious comment on the
Mayors change of heart which provoked
caustic rejonder from Mayor Phelan. Two
other letters appeared in which the Mayor ex-
pressed his doubts whether PoniatOwsh was a
real prince, and the latter retorted by declaring
that every one aware of the fact that
Phelan was not n real Mayor. and moreover.
was Influenced wholly by his political ambitions
and not by any regard for the welfare or morals
Of the city. As il is. the Mayors veto OF Ingle-
side has helped the turf gamblers. as both the
Tanforan and Oakland tracks may now divide
the year between them and thus have continu-
racing.
Ex-Chief of Police Lees has been engaged TO
prepare the evidence against Mrs. Cordelia Bot
kim who will be tried a second time for poison
ing Mrs. John p. Dunning and her sister of
Dover. Del. Lees worked up the original case,
which was as clear and convincing a chain Of
circumstantial evidence the famous case
against Theodore Durrant for the murder OF two
which Lees also managed. AS a gatherer Of evil
dence in large criminal cases Lees has no
perior and few equals in this country. He was
the originator Of the Rogues Gallery. which now
forms part OF the equipment Of every city po-
lice Office in the country.
Eastern experts and Eastern capital are com
ing rapidly into the California oil fields IN Kern
and Ventura counties. The Kern oil measures
al rl,al he thickness of ne oil
and for the general diffusion Of these sands over
large areas II Is admitted by all experts that
California has now solved the problem Of secur-
ing cheap fuel for manufacturing, and that
with plenty of low priced oil there should be
great boom in all kinds Of manufactures The
climate is also a big factor in cheap manufact-
uring, as II is never cold to interfere with
the work. and no heating Of rooms Is required.
Ex- Secretary Of State John w Foster is de-
liyering series Of lectures at the University OF
California on subjects connected with diplomacy.
In an address this week he dwelt the fact
that our foreign ministers paid poorly
that only rich man can afford TO represent the
United States abroad in any OF the first class
positions.
one OF the prettiest sights that President Nc
kinley Will his trip through California
will be acres of flowers at San Jose. planted and
cultivated by school children. The procession
will include many floats from the school dis
tricts OF Santa Clara County.
The semi-centennial this week Of the founding
Of Santa Clara College. near San Jose
imposing event, as prominent CatnOnC preldteS
came from all parts OF the State TO take part.
The college was founded by Franciscan mission
aries. and IL has graduated some notable Cali
fOrnians the most prominent being ex-senator
Stephen NJ. White, who died recently in Los
Angeles.
Colonel Charles 6. Diehl, assistant manager OF
The Associated Press. is visited here this week.
after an absence of several years. He noted the
growth Of San Francisco, but he expressed sur
prise that new settlers did not come into the
State more rapidly when the conditions of life
were found so much easier than in any Of the
Eastern Middle West States. He visited the
oil district in Kern County and was much i'm
pressed with the possibilities Of the field He
thought the Pacific cable would give greater
stimulus to the growth Of California than the
Nicaragua Canal.
The, Asti Italian-Swiss colony has secured
four fifths of stock of the Cloverdale Wine Com
pany. which thus puts it in practical control
of Northern and Western Sonoma County.
The California Prune Association has secured
the entire prune crop OF the State for last year
and is now proceeding in a systematic way TO
increase the demand for this wholesome fruit.
Small boxes of choice prunes will he sent East
for general distribution. accompanied by drec-
tions for preparation of many tasteful desserts
from the fruit. The prunes hand amount to
seventy-fve million pounds. and these must be
cleared out before the new crop arrives.