New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-17
ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE.
Delay in Graft Cases Continues
Dinan'S NOUeI Plan.


lays in the graft cases this week, the absence
Of the Mayor compelling a postponement Of his
case for fifteen days. Judge Dunno probably
will grant a further delay. The Supreme Court
has not yet acted Ruefs application for
writ of habeas corpus. Ruef obtaining another
continuance. Chief Dinan came up with Ruef
on the charge OF extortng money from disor-
DERBY houses and the ingenious plea Of his
counsel was that the chief had been made a wit
ness against himself before the grand jury with
out having been Informed Of his right to refuse
70 answer. 1t is eighty-five days since
these graft cases were first called. yet the prog
ress made is not visible to laymen. The defence,
which claimed TO be eager for trial that the
Mayor and Ruef might be indicated, has made
use of every technical objection and has shown
no desire TO save time and bring the matter
into the courts.
On or before April IS. the anniversary OF the
earthquake and fire. railroad trains viii be run
ming into San Francisco over the new bay shore
cutoff of the Southern Pacific This improve
ment saves about fifteen minutes on the run to
San Jose. and the several tunnels through the
San Bruno hills eliminate the heavy grades just
outside OF the city The road will be double
tracked in the most substantial manner. It is
one Of the most important improvements made
bv the Southern Pacific here in many years.
Work was begun this week on the rehablita-
ton Of the Mills Building, on Montgomery street.
one OF the largest and finest office buildings IN
the city All the old walls to be stripped.
the steel frame alone remaining. Mr.. Mills has
announced that the new building will be better
than the old, which was the best in the city be-
fore the fire.
II is announced that the Hotel Fairmont. on
Mob Hill. is TO be opened on April Is All the
showrooms and three hundred of the guest
rooms will be ready. In Of its features this
huge hotel will surpass anything IN New York,
among them being the Norman Cats and the
Laurel Court.
housekeeping day has been suggested as
the best plan for removing the debris that stili
filters many streets In this way thousands OF
volunteers could do much by concerted effort to
make downtown streets passable. The greatest
complaint is made by teamsters over the con-
dition OF the pavement in streets near the water
front where heavy draying is done. The eff
cheney Of drayage companies has fallen of one
third. and company reports ninety horses
out OF service because Of injuries.
Seven street cisterns in the Mission district
have been repaired by the Mission Improve
ment Association. These cIsterns were allowed
to run dry and TO be covered with dirt. so that
they were useless at the time of the great fire.
The san Francisco Gas Company is trying to
evade Judgment for S1O.SOO by claiming that
the gas explosions at Washington and Leaven-
worth streets in November. 1904. were due 10
dynamite bomb placed the steps OF the house
BY Harry Orchard. who was convicted Of the
murder of Governor Steunenberg, at Boise.
Orchard confessed that he blew up this house
with an Internal machine but evidence at the
time showed that the damage was wrought by
the explosion OF gas from leaky main
In the Greek theatre at Berkeley She Stops
to Conquer" was produced this week by COM
pany headed by W. H Crane and Ellis Jeffreys.
The performance was highly praised by critics
but, though the day was perfect. IT was found
that lack OF scenic effects marred results.
Among building permits applied for this week
were two by the Levi Strauss Realty Company,
one for a store and offlca building on Battery
street near Pine. 10 cost $4,000. and the other
for q $500 building at the southeast corner
of Battery and Pine streets.
The Southern Pacific Company this week sue
ceeded in closing the break in the Colorado
River which threatened destruction Of the I'm
periaI colony. The Salton Sea will soon begin
TO disappear 1t is expected that in ten years
this big inland sea will once more be barren
desert
The failure OF the Hill railroads to move more
than % per cent OF the wheat OF Eastern Wash
ington has caused great loss 10 the mills at Sc
attic and on the coast II is estimated that the
loss in exports Of -four viii reach $4,000.
The restoration to entry by the President Of
10000 acres of the finest timber and agricultural
land IN whatcom County speedily followed the
withdrawal OF these lands. Arthur Ringlands,
college graduate employed in the Forestry Blu
reau. was responsible for withdrawing the lands.
The injustice OF the order called forth great
protest. which the President needed.