New-York tribune., 1906-02-25
ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE.
Rains ImproUe Fruit and Grain Crop
-Diuorce Statistics.

San Francisco. Feb. 23.-Tho heavy rains Of
this week have been OF enormous benefit TO all
fruit raising and grain raising counties. Tha
outlook is viewed by experts as the best In years.
and the prospects bright for unusually
large crop. The rainfall is still only about two
thirds OF what IL last year at this time. bus
the moisture MS been well distributed. IN
Southern California. which suffered from
drouth during the early part OF last season.
rains have come at regular intervals. and all
crops are in fine condition Unless late frosts
should reduce the yield the crop OF fruit PROM
ises to be the largest produced IN California
Official statistics of divorce In California for
the last six months OF 1905 show that 1853 d.
vorces were granted. San Francisco furnished
Ats cases. Los Angeles go and Alameda 90. In
SO1 cases wives were plaintiffs. and SIT children
were affected by the litigation. Seven hundred
and sixty-seven couples were childless- OF chill
dren thus affected only 125 were over ten years
cid. The main cause OF divorce was desertion,
$50 cases coming under this head. $40 FOR ex-
treme cruelty and 2O5 for neglect TO provide
A curious dispute has arisen over titles to land
once covered by Tulare Lake. When the lake
covered this land the only way TO get title to t
was to file on it as swamp and overfowed
land" reclaim it. and then get patents from ths
were diverted for irrigation purposes. and when
the lake dried up many settlers filed on the
lands agricultural. These people are now try
ing TO prevent original claimants from getting
their titles. Governor Pardee has refused TO
sign patents. declaring that he wants evidence
of fraud. but there seems 10 be no fraud. tha
original claimants having clear right to the land
The United States Circuit Court Of Appeals
TaS era af,oa1 49,
that boys under age who enlist IN the navy
punishable in court.
The case came up on application for a writ Of
habeas corpus in behalf of a youth who had
listed In the marine corps. The navy entered the
plea that the lad was to be tried by court mar
tfal. and so appeal was taken TO the Circuit
Court. This action Of the Navy Department is
said 10 be due to the desire TO retain in service
all who have enlisted. especially in the marine
corps.
Hersche! Mayall, local actor appeared IN
court this week TO answer charges of his wife
that he had failed to pay her three notes OF $500
each. given because she agreed TO sign certain
deeds. MayaH in his best stage voice declared
1t wasn't intended that he should redeem the
notes. as he handed them TO his wife to paefy
her as one would give toys TO noisy child to
pacify IT. The judge decided the actor must
wife
Arthur L. Walker. expert for the Srnelter
Trust. is here, engaged In selecting a site FOR
a big smelling plant which the Smelling Trust
VIII soon erect on the shore of San Francisco
Bay. Two sites have been proposed. one near
Port Costa, not far from the Selby Smelling
Works. and the other az San Bruno Point which
has very deep water.
An old janitor named James TAFT but faIniI-
larly known as Jimmy Potatoes" one OF ths
characters on the campus the University or
california. died this week. and the mourning
or students was shown by half-masting flags
on university buildings. The tanitor scratched
als hand with q rusty nail and blood poisoning
resulted TAFT was very popular among under
graduates and alumni. as he took keen inter-
est In al student affairs and was enthusiastic
over football
george A Anderson. once factoturn for the
ate Senator Stanford and for years In charge Of
ne large dormitory. Encina Hail. at stanford
university. Is dying. Anderson is English. and
vas once steward In the Prince OF waless
iousehoid He has travelled extensively. and
became attached to Stanford's service IN Europe
among tns students he was held In much regard.
$ ne seldrm reported any breaches of discipline.
'ut dealt personally with offenders
peath rrom the bite OF black spider occurred
MS week at San Bernardino An eleven-yesr-
10 boy was bitten while playing In a haymow'
'ut only household remedies were applied. tha
injury was not regarded as serious. The next
lay when the child began to have eonvulsious.
oetors We're summoned. but they declared tho
oiSon had penetrated the system so thoroughly
nat there was no hope. ana all they could do
vas TO relieve the child's suffariDr with chloro-
orm.
a o. Louis syndicate has bought three thou
anu acres OF fine land near Sacramento fos
o'ohS purposes This land viii be divided into
y. aere tracts. and win be planted TO varieties