New-York tribune., 1902-12-28
ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE.

San Francisco. Dec 26.-This year has been
one of the most remarkable in the history OF
both California and San Francisco Never be-
fore has trade increased so rapidly growth
been so marked in a single tweIvemonth.
Though 1t is only four years since Admiral
Dewey took Manila and brought California into
ultimate trade relations with the Orient, the
Pacific commerce has increased beyond the most
sangune expectations. The most remarkabls
growth has been in trade with China, and this
increase is attributed largely to the policy OF
Secretary Hay in treating the Chinese as he
would any other power. In the last three years
the gain in foreign tonnage of this port was
3SS, 900. and in this time than hundred
steamships have been added to the Pacific
Ocean fleet Among them two 11,JOO ton
steamships for the Pacific Mail Company, one
Of which. the Korea, has already cut down the
voyage from Yokohama to San Francisco to
ten days. The cable to China, which will be in
operation by July ext, should greatly stimu-
late trade. The total foreign exports from San
Francisco during the year ended November 80
last amounted to $4O.434 $40 an increase OF
more than S3OOOOOO in the year The exports
to China amounted to nearly S6.OOO.OO0 and to
Japan $3,J00.0O0. Most of the Oriental trade is
in -four, and this demand for California -four
promises soon to absorb all the surplus wheat
grown in the State
San Francisco's bank clearings for the year
ended cIovember 81 were s.. .342 9722 204. an in
crease of $177,31j.736 over the previous year.
The city's flour exports for the year amounted
to S4.OO0,000, and merchandise exports to $4O.-
100000. San Franciscos manufactures for the
year were S140.00O.000. The city is using
nearly $4,000 horsepower by electric transmits
sion from the Coast Range and the Sierra Ne
vada Mountains. The city is building up very
rapidly The year now ending has been marked
the erectie of large number of big hotels
and apartment houses Cafornia's gold pro-
duction for 1902 was S1SOOOOO0; wheat. S14.-
OOO.0OO: raisins $7OO0O00; beet sugar. $9OO0-
COO Among the features which have developed
manufacturing are the use of fuel oil and the
increased use of electric power. Next year will
,e a large gain in the of both. The State
has forty-one shipbuilding plants. and has
,ached third place among the States in this in
dustry-
Many CaIfornians see in the plan of opera
tions OF the proposed China Commercial Com
pany a grave menace to the Chinese exclusion
laws j. S. Van Buren. general manager Of the
new company, who arrived here on the Coptic
on Wednesday, talks freely Of the corporations
plans. He says that it's purpose is 70 colonize
exico with Chinese coolies but as wages are
very poor below the line. while they are high on
the American side. Californians are inclined TO
think that most Of these coolies will eventually
reach this country. Already large numbers have
come in over the southern borders. paying as
high as 500 each to the smuggiers who aided
them The new company will start it's first
steamer from Hong Kong on April /
It is more than probable that the recently an
nounced pension plan of the Southern Pacific
Company will result in the retirement Of several
prouninent officials of that corporation Accord
ing to a circular issued this week all officials
who attain the age of seventy years may retire
on pension. There are six officials in the general
cfices who come within this provision They are
CAPTAIN N T Smith. treasurer: T. II. Goodman.
general passenger agent; Joseph L Willcutt. for
nerIy secretary of the company and now secre-
tary of several Of the subsidiary companies in
Guiding the Central Pacific and the Southern Pa
ciic Railway Company: E. Black RYAN. tax
attorney Of the company; Jerome Madden. land
agent Of the Southern Pacific. and ]. N. Han
ford, paymaster. In addition 70 these there are
nearly one hundred minor officials and en-
ployes eligible for retirement under the pension
rule The new system will go into effect
January l. and there is much anxiety in the
general offices as to whether the new order will
be enforced
By a contract filed this week Z. J. C'Lucky''l
Baldwin agreed to sell the last Of the famous
Baldwin Hotel property. in Market-st- The lot
is known as the Baldwin annex. and front
the block TO Ellis-st- IL has frontage OF
twenty y-five feet in the latter street.