New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-03
ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE.
Rain Encourages Fruit Groscers-
q. of c. Bugs Bancroft Libraru.

ers Sufficient rain has fallen to start the
ploughs, although the deposited moisture is
small compared with most years at this season
In San Francisco scarcely one inch has fallen
against S3 inches last year. and the same pro-
portion holds in all Northern and Central Cal
nornla- The southern counties rainfall is dou-
ole that Of last year. Along the Colorado
River the rainfall is so heavy that this stream
is much swollen, and the result has been that
costly work done by the Southern Pacific Com
pany to protect the intake of the Imperial Col
ony, as well as the government dam, has been
swept away, and the waters of the Colorado
are once more pouring into Salton Sea What
the result viii be on Imperial Colony is uncer-
tain. It may so seriously damage irrigation
works as to imperil the future of the colony.
The acquisition OF the Bancroft Library by
the University of California is noteworthy, as
it gives the State institution the finest collec-
ton extant of unique documents on Pacific
coast history Much of the contents of the Ii
brary may be duplicated in any good collection
Of Americana, but it is in manuscript material
that the library is unique. Mr.. Bancroft sent
out men to take from dictation stories Of their
lives by California pioneers most of whom
now dead. He also gathered priceless manu-
scripts and early missals from Franciscan
missions and from old Spanish families in re-
duced circumstances. He paid literally for
this material. and spent much money in clas-
styling and arranging it for the Of the
student. The library includes more than fifty
thousand volumes and more than hundred
and twenty-five thousand manuscripts.
Professor Reuben Goldthwaite, who was
asked to examine the library. appraised it at
100000. The University Of California paid
S150O00 for it All interested in early Cali
fornia history are rejoicing that this valuable
library will rot leave the coast. The library
will be in charge of Frederick j. Taggart for
seven years librarian of Mechanics Institute.
BY one of the pecuiarities of law Adolph
Weber, of Auburn Cal, acquires an entire
estate by numbering his father. mother, broth
er and sister. Young Weber, who is not yet
of age, has been convicted Of the atrocious
crime and has appealed the case A portion
of the estate was transferred to him, and this
week Judge Morrow, in the Federal Court, de-
cided that an uncle of Weber has no claim,
even though the real heir has obtained the es-
tate by murder.
One of the best charities in the state is the
Youths Directory, a Catholic Institution man
aged by Father Crowley, and the chief feature
Of which is a ranch at Rutherford, Napa
County where city waits are taught farming
and several trades. For years Father Crow
ley's ambition has been to place boys from the
cutters of big cities in the country before they
reach the age of fourteen, and to make them
good farmers At the close of fair held here
for the benefit Of this charity $4,000 was raised.
which leaves a debt of only $4,000 on the farm,
which is now self-supporting. Among those who
aided in this good work Of raising funds was
Bourlxe Cochran. who donated the proceeds OF
lecture amounting to $1,512.
= The low rate Of 81 a hundred orange
shipments to Europe is a great thing for Cali
fornia growers, as it will permit them to ship
to London and the Continent with an excellent
chance of good profit. and it will also remove
the danger Of a glut in the New-York market
at certain seasons. Southern California still
produces the great bulk of the oranges shipped
to the East. but Northern and Central Cali
fornfa groves are yielding more literally every
wear 1t is noteworthy that this seasons first
carload of California oranges to reach Chicago
the day before Thanksgiving came from Pa
iernao, Butte County, one of the richest placer
gold mining districts Of pioneer days. Ihose
groves are irrigated by means Of bitches orig
fnaIly constructed to bring water to hydrauho
mines.
Among the noteworthy marriages this week
were those Of Miss Grace Spreckels, the Oldest
daughter Of John D. spreckels, and Alexander
Hamilton son of the late Colonel Robert ham
iIton. and of Miss Mary Elizabeth Kohl and
Evan s. Pillsbury, the son Of Wen Known
lawyer.
Miss Anna Strunsky and her sister Rose LEFT
here this week for Geneva. Switzerland, from
which places they purpose to go to Russia to
work in behalf of the revolutionists- Miss
Anna was the joint author. with Jack London
80 1.-THE Kempton- WAGE Letters" She has
, written for magazines and has lectured on
.oot.I,eno Her sister has just completed a
Course at Stanford University. Their friends
ara alarmed over the risks which these young
American girls viii run in their reform Work
in Russia
rha state Supreme Court this week decided
80 che law is unconstitutional forbidding the
exaction of more than 11z per cent interest
. month on chattel mortgages. The State leg
;ele+7,re this year passed law limiting the rate
of interest and regulating corporations FORMED
CO.. the nurpose of loaning money personal
Syo,art,y or real estate. The court holds that
he statutes are discriminating, and that If
anv reform is to be applied, Such exorpltahS
interest charges should be prohplteo'
s,,its involving $4,000 are now
-.1,ding against the Golden Cross Mining COM
nonv near Yuma, which has the distinction OF
r,nning the largest cyanide plant in Caiifor-
nc as well as defending the biggest lawsuit
q, the history of mining litigation in the State
The suits, which have been IN the courts lot
-. ,,ears have already cost S3.000,0O0. and
lawyers claim that the costs sun u; Ia,S,
ada ore but the ledge is 70 feet wide and the
property would pay good dlvloehos' II Is pe-
ieved If litigation couid De ehe
HATS IN THEATRES.
~. IN theatres has IN Turin taken
me qu ,I1 ca,,se men theatregoers IN England to