New-York tribune., 1905-01-08
ON THE PACIFIC COAST.
Choice of United States Senator
Land Fraud Indictments.

San Francisco. Jan 1.-THE legislature organ
lied this week, and, as usual went through the
form Of a contest for reducing expenses. IL was
proposed by the conservative members 10 fix the
pay Of Assemblymen at $6 and Senators at S1Oa
day. but the Old legislative hands got in quiet
parliamentary work. and before the reformers
knew II the Official pay was fixed at the Oldtims
honored rate of $50 a day for Senators and $40 a
cay for Assembymen. The chief interest OF the
opening days Of the session lies in the selection
Of United States Senator TO succeed Senator
Bard. There are a number Of candidates. the
most prominent of whom are Mr.. Flint, Of Los
Angeles. and Mr. Fisk. OF San Francisco. Mr..
Oznard. the sugar man. OF Chino, and U. s.
Grant. jr.. oc San Diego. are also in the fight
but they are almost dark horses Mr. Flint is
declared TO be the choice Of the Southern Pacific
Company, but many political experts are looking
to see Senator Bard forge to the front and secure
reelection when it has been settled that none OF
the others command enough votes OF the
men who are running George A. Knight has a
national reputation. gained as an eloquent
speaker at the big convention and in the last two
campaigns.
The indictment OF Senator Mitchell and Con-
gresham Hermann. Of oregon, for land frauds.
created a sensation here where both men ara
well known The action of Francis T. Heney
who appears as the representative of the De-
partment Of Justice, is commended here as IL is
recognized the first move OF President Roose-
welt to break up the system Of fraudulent land
appropriation which has practically put home
stead outside the reach of the poor man on this
coast unless he goes to inaccessible places be-
yond the reach OF railroad. In most cases OF
this sort political and personal influence and
legal technicalities have been able 10 secure the
acquittal of the land grabbers. The recent pro-
eeedings in the Benson-DimOn land fraud cases
in Trinity County fresh in public recollection
Several miIlionaires in California owe their
wealth to their cunning IN securing large tracts
Of valuable timber lands by means OF dummy
locaters and in many cases the pre-emption OF
public domain has been carried out in a way
that admits of successful prosecution Mr.
Heney in a long interview here this week de-
clareS he has ample evidence 10 convict both
Mitchell and Hermann entirely outside of the
testimony OF accomplces and convicted per-
sons.
Much interest has been shown here In the
discovery by Major Squier. of the signal corps
of the United States army. stationed at the
PresidiO. that trees IN good foliage are such ex-
celent conductors OF electricity that they NAV
be used for transmission and receipt of wire
less messages The leaves Of the trees serve aS
antenne or intercepters of the electrical wave.
and communicate it to the sap Of the trunk
The electrician forms a connection by driving a
simple, and hence Major Squier claims for his
discovery great value for military purposes in
the field.
The shippers Of oranges and other California
fruits are much encouraged by the reduction in
the time of delivery OF consignments east OF
Chicago. The Lake Shore and Big -Four lines
have operated with the Santa Fe and Southern
Pacific and have made arrangements by which
fruit cars viii be added to fast dairy trains be-
tween Chicago and New-YOTk. This is of spe-
ciaI service in the delivery Of oranges.
Efforts will be msGe at this session Of the
legislature to pass bill for the establishments
OF teachers practice training school at the
University of California Ten thousand dollars
has been asked for n temporary building and
equipment. AT present there is no school OF this
sort west OF the University ef Chicago. The
school VIII make specially Of training teach
ers for hlgn school work. The Baptists have
bought lot and building in the university
town of Berkeley for @ theological seminary. ami
the work OF organizing the new Institution viii
begin at once
A new electric railroad was incorporated this
week called the jamestown and Yosemite VAL
ley Railroed Company. which il IS expected will
carry tourists TO the Mariposa big trees and
Yosemite Park. 7. 5 Bullock. OF this city. IA
the principal stockholder The plan is 70 con-
meet the mining towns OF Jamestown and Mari
pOsa and to furnish easy and rapid transDOrta-
ton 90 Ihe Yosemite Valley. A bill viii be pre-
sented TO Congress TO secure permission 70 enter
the Yosemite National PARK.
SIrs. Theresa OeIrichs has decided 70 trans
form he's two million dollar Fairmoupt Eo,el, on
the summit OF Noh Hill i..to a swell apartment
house The hotel walls finished and ths
roof is on. but no interior furnishing work has
been done. When Mrs. W. X. Vanderbilt. jr-
came out here last year her husband lneUced
her 10 withdraw from The hOtcl prOjcCt. as ne
predicted Il would be a financial failure. Now
Mrs. Oelrichs has become convinced the h0let
wouldn't pay and she Will have the big building
finished as an apartment house. This can be
easily done and the result Will be 2s sumptuous
quarters as any in the country, with view
which cannot be equalled hT ans other building
here commanding the whole sweep OF the bar