New-York tribune., 1904-09-18

pany. a new corporation that has secured a Tar
rninal On San Francisco Bay and has obtained n
complete right OF way between here and Salt
Lake City The mystery was cleared IN this
week by the election Of two directors. who are
known 10 be in the Gould interests. These d.
rectors are Edward T. jeffrey. president OF the
Denver and Rio Grande. and William H. Tavlor.
vice-President OF the Bowling Green Trust Com
pany. Of New-Tork. and a close friend OF Edwin
Gould. The Western Pacific win cross the
Sierra Nevada over Beckwith Pass. the lowest
on the whole mountain range, and from Salt
Lake TO the east will connect with the Gould
lines within two years When the Western Pa
cthc is built from this city to Salt Lake and
complete connection is made between Pittsburg
and Baltimore the GOuIds will have a con-
tnuous line from the Atlantic TO the Pacific.
II looks now as Il the men in the local
administration who have openly violated the
election laws viii be brought to Justice The
Merchants Association. formed to secure good
civic government. has caused the arrest Of
Charles Wyman. a friend Of Commissioner
Mrstretti OF the Board OF Public Works, and
VIII prosecute him for voting on another mans
name az q recent primary election. Co-nmis-
sioner Mastretti IS a close friend OF Mayor
schmitz, and IL is alleged that Mr.. Wynan's
fraud was committed to perpetuate the power Of
Mayor Schnitz. The Merchants Association has
proof against other ballot suffers. but It Will
make a test case OF the wyrnan prosecution
Fairfax H Wheelan. prominent lawyer IS the
active head OF this reform, and viii be the prtn-
eipal witness against Mr.. Wynan. The present
local administration has carried on election
frauds so boldly that 1t Is greatly shocked over
Mr.. Wyman'S arrest
Francis Lyman Van Denburgh. a California
pioneer. who was largely instrumental in the
construction OF the first telegraph line across the
continent to the Pacific Coast, died this week In
Oakland. He was in charge OF building the first
western Union line to San Francisco. and for
many years he was superintendent Of the COM
pany at this point.
The California State Federation OF Labor is
endeavoring to form a union OF the San Fran
cisco school teachers. It Is rather remark
able fact that this State federation should have
as It's president Harry A B>Aox. labor agita-
tor. who was accused OF completely IN wreck
ing train crowded with regular soldiers near
Sacramento. in the great railroad strike OF 1894.
The jury acquitted Knox Of blame for killing
the four soldiers. but the evidence against him
was strong. General shafter expressed his
sentiments IN regard to the crime when he put
on the monument erected TO the dead soldiers
IN the Preside the inscription shat they were
murdered BY union strikers
The fire which ragged for several days IN the
Big Basin forest reserve. between San jose and
Santa Cruz. did little damage to the big red
wood trees that are the glory Of this new State
Park The flames cleared out all underbrush.
but the giant redwoods were not burned Even
those which had foliage badly scorched VIII not
die Professor William R. Dudley. OF the Botan-
zeal Department IN Leland Stanford University,
headed q party OF students who did good work
in checking the spread OF the flames.
Such marks OF success have followed the
planting OF five acres 70 date palms az Mecca,
in the heart OF the Colorado desert. that the
Agricultural Department has decided 60 set out
ten acres more 70 date trees. There are thou
sands Of acres In the desert that may be planted
70 these trees. and especially in the new I'm
perial" colony near the Mexican boundary line,
where water Is secured by big bitches from the
Colorado River. The climatic conditions are per-
feet for the growth and development OF the date
palm al along the edge OF the Colorado desert,
provided water can be secured from artesian
wells. The demonstration by the government
that the date palm can be grown on the desert
viii lead to the planting OF much land which Is
now lying waste.