New-York tribune., 1907-01-20
ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE.
San Francisco Coal Trust Mag Be
Curbed By Federal Court.
IBy Telegraph to The Tribune ]

tBy Telegraph TO The Tribune
San Francisco. Jan. 19--It looks as though
the local coal trust. which has had complete
control Of the fuel situation since the earth
quake. may be brought into the federal courts
and Its power curbed. Lack OF coal in Wash
ington and Oregon has enabled the trust to ad-
vance prices 10 SIS a ton for bituminous coal,
which be laid down in San Francisco for 81.
Foreign Goals are still dearer. as no adequate
supply has been brought here from Australia iOr
China The Western Fuel Company has almost
complete monopoly OF coal IN San Francisco.
as IL owns nearly all the bunkers the water
front and II controls the charters OF coal ships.
The present Legislature is making record
for the introduction OF bills. and also for reck-
less extravaganza. The latest plan Is TO furnish
all members with a small law library. 1t is
doubtful whether this proposition will pass. as
even the grafters admit that there is a limit
10 sQusndertng public money. Among the food
OF bills is TO prohibit betting the Oak
land racecourse. a measure which. II adopted.
would mean death to racing. With the present
Legislature there IS no prospect that this anti
racing bill will pass.
citizens committee has been formed to put
the principal streets in proper condition. Under
the present city administration a very small
percentage OF the money appropriated for keep
ing the streets In repair ever reaches it's legit-
mate purpose. Mayor Schnitz and others in
control are largely occupied in seeing that the
political hangers-on Of the administration are
furnished with easy Jobs. A large number OF
men are on the payroll as street sweepers. but
very few put in any honest work. The heavy
teaming streets like Market Mission. San
some and Battery has worn enormous holes IN
the pavemeHts. Immediate repairs are neces-
sary or traffic must cease.
David Starr Jordan. president OF Stanford
University in q lecture here this week declared
that Japan must be looked 70 to prevent further
emigration of coolies 10 this country, and that
diplomatic request would accomplish this pur-
pose He says that he has Semt-othcial lnfOrna-
tiOn that the Japanese government Is willing
10 stop emigration if the United States requests
it, DR. Jordan knows the japanese we'll. and
ne asserted that they would asstmtlate readily
and become good citizens
The Academy Of Sciences has decided to erect
a building in Golden Gate Park which will serve
meeting place for members and will house
its collections. The trustees have $25O.0O0 for
the proposed building The Memorial Museum
building is being repaired, and will be reOpened
soon. Most of the exhibits were undamaged by
the earthquake
The coolest weather known in many years
has prevailed this week throughout Northern
California. Rain, hail and snow have fallen in
many districts. IL showed In Berkeley and Oak
land. and hills back of these cities are covered
with snow. Hail and sleet fell in Frisco. and
there We're heavy frosts every night
Jerome a. Hart who has been connected with
The Argonaut" for twenty-five years. and has
been proprietor and editor fourteen years. has
man, recently of The Sacramento Union" Mr.
Hart asserts that he retired from THE ArgO-
naut" because he could not approve President
RooseVelt's course in the Japanese school QUeS-
tiOn. Hart will devote his time literary
work. Holman received his training under Har--
vey Scott. Of The Portland Oregonian." and is
q vigorous writer.
The government will probably have to pay
eight cents a pound for the delivery of mail
matter to Nome this season All transportation
companies said to have agreed bid not
less than eight cents for carrying mail Last
year only four cents pound was paid for thiSN
service.
The coal shortage is so great in Washington
that Japanese steamers which ply between Ia
coma and the Orient are bring their coal
from Shanghai and MOji Cardiff coal can be
bought at Shanghai for So - ton. while in
Tacoma il sells for S15, with very little In sight
PetaluTna poultry have Joined the Santa
Rosa Cooperative Association, and win receive
from Swift & Co. OF Chicago, % cents dozen
minimum for their eggs the year round with
top market quotations at all times.
The trustees of Leland Stanford University
favor bill authorizing them to charge fees in
professional and engineering courses They be-
leve students would derive more benefit than
from free tuition. the fees would nable the
trustees To buy more expensive equipment
The practice of whaling captains kidnapping
Esqumau girls and taking them to the Far
North received n severe check this week. when
to one days imprisonment and $3.50 fine
and the costs of the prosecution for taking a
girl to the Arctic. Newth was held three
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