New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-07
ON THE PACIFIC COAST.

San Francisco Jan .-Extrene cold weather
and heavy snowfaIls are reported from the foot
hill regions. In Kern County fifteen inches OF
snow covers the ground. Orange growers were
warned by telegraph, and by smudging the
groves with coal tar smoke the fruit and trees
were saved from frost. Deep snow means much
to mining men. with present cold the snow
will lie long in the spring and thus afford ample
water for working the mines until far into the
summer.
Throughout the Sacramento and San Joaquin
valleys there has been much suffering among
stock because of lack of pasturage and water.
Cattle are dying near Stockton and similar con-
ditions are reported from other places The
rainfall to date this season is only about one
quarter of the average, and though heavy rain
fell for a few hours early this week the storm
did not last long enough to soak the ground
Farmers are not seeding much ground 10 grain
until they can be assured of sufficient water
The mines the mother lode of the Sierra
Nevada are idle because of lack Of water, and
even the electric light plants have been forced to
shut down.
The suicide of Frank Physcator VINO had made
several fortunes in the Klondike. emphasizes
the fact that few of the original locatOrs on
Bonanza and EIdorado Creek were able to keep
their gold or their health OF about one hun
dred who Joined the first stampede from Forty
Mile Camp not more than half dozen invested
their sudden fortunes wisely. The great major
ity were dazed by wealth TO which they were
unaccustomed and squandered riches like men
in Pennsylvania who struck oil and were con-
verted into monaires in a single day
Physcator located a claim next to the original
discovery on Eldorado Creek. and this mine
paid him large sums. He owned other mines
and much property in Dawson but wasted thou
sands in riotous living. He became addicted to
opium because of rheumatism and he drank
whiskey like water. The combination upset his
reason, and in fit of dependency he cut MS
throat The only good use he made of his
wealth was to buy farms in Michigan for ms
parents and other relatives
The year has opened well in the real estate
market with four large sales that aggregate
more than S75OOOO The Hotel America prop
erty sold for $4,000. and the southeast corner
of Suffer and Jones SITS. FOR $225,OOO
The death of Mrs Francis NJ Smith of apo
pIexy at Arbor villa. in East Oakland. removes
one of the most active charitable workers In
California She used her large wealth 70 found
a kindergarten in Oakland and also established
a cottage settlement. giving homes to number
of orphan girls. She was also active in other
church and phianthropic work. HEY 1885,
has large interests in porax deposits in De-.
Valley.
Jules Clerfayt who has represented the Trans
siberian Railway in San Francisco since il was
opened has lost the agency. the Russian gov
ernment has decided abolish the Offices here
The office was retained ali through the Russo
japanese War. although no passenger service
could be furnished. 1t is said that no passen-
gers Will be accepted over the road until next
fall, because Of extensive repairs made necessary
by damage done by japanese troops.
The college town OF Berkeley is to have a new
hotel OF five hundred rooms. to be called Uni
versty Court Hotel at Dana-st. and Alston
Way. a feature of the hotel will be balconies
from which one may get fine views OF San
Francisco Bay. the Golden Gate, Mt. Tam
apoiis and the Marin County shore Berkeley Is
growing rapidly, many people seeking il as
place of residence because of educa tional factl-
tiles and the fine views from it's many hills By
new ferry arrangements 1t is only forty minutes
from San Francisco
The annual rose carnival on New Years Day
was celebrated by Pasadena. and despite the
fact that the day cold and windy forty
thousand people witnessed the parade OF beauti-
fully decorated vehicles The chariot races anG
,ther sports excited much interest