New-York tribune., 1902-08-10
ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE.
EARTHQUAKES NOT vIOLENT-sANTA
FE RAILROAD BUYS OIL WELLS.

FE RAILROAD BUYS OIL WELLS.
San Francisco Aug S.-As was to be ex-
pected, stories OF earthquake in Santa Barbara
County turned out careful investigation. 20
be grossly exaggerated. The shocks were un-
questionabIy heavy. but the damage resulting
was slight Instead Of $4,000. the damage did
not amount to 5000. Beyond a score or so OF
chimneys and a few brick walls which were
thrown down or badly cracked. little damage
was done. Investigation by scientists shows
that the shocks are confined to small region
in the oil and asphalt section. which is always
more or less disturbed They are thought to
have been caused by the generation Of gases
near the surface Of the earth. Shocks continue.
although there have been no heavy ones for
several days.
II the plans OF the municipal board Of public
works are carried out san Francisco will have
one Of the best water systems in the world
It is proposed to bring STOW water TO the city
from the high Sierras. The source Of supply IS
at the head waters of the Tuolumne River. in
the Hetchey region. about two hundred miles
east OF this city. This is uninhabited wilder
ness. The watershed from which it is proposed
to take the supply for San Francisco embraces
four hundred and fifty square miles Of noun
tain country. most OF which is included in gov
ernment reservations. It is estimated by en-
be obtained. which can be doubled with small
expense.
The Santa Fe Railroad has just bought Up a
group OF oil wells in Kern County for $1,000 900.
This purchase is the result of an unfortunate
contract made by the railroad some time ago
with a. B. Butler. an oil man. The railroad de-
cided to use Oil on its locomotives. and made
contract with Butler furnish the oil at I5
cents barrel The price of oil declined rapidly
until it reached Is cents barrel The railroad
company then decided that it would be cheaper
to buy the wells than to carry out its contract.
The decision of the Supreme Court that mar
riages of divorced Californians in Nevada are
valid has attracted much attention in this State.
as more. than four thousand couples are af-
fected by it. The California law forbids rernar-
riage of divorced people Within the State for
year after the decree is granted In order 70
evade this statute. divorced Californians have
been accustomed to go TO Reno. just over the
line, to make new marriage VOWS. Many persons
of prominence have had recourse to this method
of evading the law. The decisions of the lower
courts have been contradictory, some holding
that these marriages were Illegal The recent
decision will rehabilitate once hourishing Ne
vada industry.
The entire State is IN the throes of a heated
the Republican State Convention. Governor
Gage is an avOwed candidate for reelection,
while the anti-boss element of the party is fight
ing him Feeling is growing more bitter every
day and both sides are making desperate efforts
10 elect their delegates As result of the con-
test, the registration in this city is very heavy
So far d,Oo0 names are enrolled for the pri-
maries
One OF the biggest timber land deals in the
history of this State was closed this week. when
$4,000 acres of redwood land in Del Norte
County passed into the hands of a Wisconsin
syndicate The price paid was S1.GOO.OO0- The
purchase includes a railroad and some mills.
The supervisors on Monday passed bill
which has for its object the prevention of en-
poyment of nOn-uniOn men on street railways
in San Francisco. 1t simply provides that cars
shall be operated by competent and experienced
motormen, gripmen and conductors OF course
it does not directly mention unions. but its
provisions such that it will result in compeil-
ing the roads to employ only union men, One
Of the sections provides that only men who have
had seven days experience on street roads or
this city shall operate cars In the event OF 8
strike this provision would Tie the hands or the
company and prevent the Importation of men
to take the places of strikers. The ordinance
seems likely pass finally in spite of the vigcr-
Gus protests of the united railways.
The Engineering Building OF Stanford Univer-
sity one OF the largest structures of its kind in
the country is practically completed and only
awaits its equipment Fifty thousand dollars
will be spent III machinery.
The report of the State 1Iineralogist on the
production of minerals in California for the year
1901. which was made public this week, shows
that the output of the mines was S345oosSSl.
against $50 622 945 for the previous pear Gold
heads the list with S16.9S9.OOO. while copper is
second with S5.501, 600 Oil is the third with
S2,961. 600.
The real estate market has been marked oy
several big deals recently One of the most
important series of transactions was the pur-
chase of lots at the corner of Grant-ave- anu
Post-st. for about 100000 A building costing
as much more will be erected on the property
1t is believed that the purchasers are ShreVe e
Co.. the big jewelry firm. The property fronts
Zee . fa,rn