davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-22
OPPOSES PURCHASE OF
SCHMIEDELL PROPERTY
Realty Board Says Seventh and
Harrison Is Not Good Site
for Fairgrounds

The San Francisco real estate board
has petitioned the board of supervisors,
asking that body TO refrain from TAX
ing further steps toward the acquisi-
tion Of property situated at Seventh
and Harrison streets and owned by the
sSchmiedeu estate
The real estate board sets forth
IN its petition that the property
Is not now desirable for chill
drens playground by reason of
the fact that the surrounding district
is no longer a residential section of
the city The board further states in
It's petition that the proposed purchase
Before the fire the location was con-
sidered an ideal spot for playground.
as it was centrally loca ted in the midst
OF Well populated district.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-22
CHANCE WILL JOIN
THE STATE LEAGUE
Report That Captain OF Chicago
Cubs Will Desert to
Outlaws
Especial Dispatch 10 The Call

FRESNO, Dec. o1. That Fran K
Chance, captain manager of the Chi
cago Cubs, will desert the ranks of
organized baseball and join the Califor-
MA state league is the substance OF a
statement given out late tonight by a
director in the Fresno club of the state
league, who for many years has been
one of Chances closest friends. The
director states that Chance will center
his interests with. the San Francisco
club in the effort to make it a leading
feature in the league.
Chance, according to the announce
ment, intends to make California the
greatest baseball state in the country,
and realizing that this only can be
accomplished by "outlaW" ball, he will
forsake the organization to better his
ends.
The fact that Chance has had and
dent Murphy of the Chicago club is
said to be leading factor in his
move.
Harry Pulliam. president of the ma
tional league. arrived in Fresno to-
night, and when asked what he thought
about it.
The director who made the state
menr concerning Frank Chance said
sprung on the coast and major league
Inagnates within the next 80 days
surprises which would cause CONS ter
nation IN more than one camp
FRANK Chances purpose in comm g
to California was to size up the base
himself with outlaw ball. was the con-
Guiding statement of the director.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-22
CENTER is PRESENTED
WITH AN INDIA BASIN
Gift to Supervisor One of Many
Handed Out by Mission
Promotion Association

Supervisor George Center, stanch ad-
vocate for the passage of the India
basin act, now rests contented He is
the owner of an India basin of his own
NOT only an India basin, but s4
blocks
The basin and 81 blocks were pre-
sented to him last night by the Mission
Promotion association, during the
course of the annual Christmas festival
of the association Center was not the
only member of the association to re-
part was admirably played by Meyer
Clark
James Rolph Jr., president of the as
sociatien, and a great admirer of
cocker spaniels, was presented with a
kennel of rag dogs. Mrs. Rolph was
given large chain, which is to be used
for the express purpose of keeping
Rolph at home nights.
Father ID. o. Crowley was presented
with a new leather bound directory.
Supervisor Broderick was given a min
iature pesthouse. Behrend Joost. who
alleges that the bylaws of the associa-
given a special set of bylaws. Theo-
dore Pinther was given a mouse trap.
A. B. Mcguire. prohibition advocate,
was presented with a bottle of wine.
The association presented James
Rolph Jr. a beautiful French clock
bearing a suitable inscription. A mu-
sical program was rendered during the
vocal selections were rendered by Miss
Ella Vollers and Miss S. Rottanzi- Miss
Mae Clarke played selections on the
violin
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-22
FAILS TO RECOVER
ON AVENUE BONDS
Union Trust Company Loses
Suit Against the State
for SI.o76.O0O

The suit OF the Union trust company
against the state Of California, in
which the former brought an action to
recover S1,s7e,000, alleging that that
amount was due as the principal and
interest on S55 Montgomery avenue
bonds held by the plaintiff. was lost by
a decision. Of the supreme court yester-
Gay.
The Union trust company contended
that the state made contract which
II broke II was not claimed that the
state promised to pay the amounts evi-
denced by the bonds. The provisions
Of the statue regarding the bonds pre-
clnded such contention.
The state was not named on the face
OF the bonds as the obligor, and, ac-
cording TO the court, did not undertake
the performance Of any obligation. The
contentious Of the defendant were
adopted by the lower court, when it
sustained the demurrer which contend
ed that the bonds and the act author
izing the issuance of the bonds created
no contractual liability on the part Of
the state
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-22
NEWS OF THE FOUR COUNTIES BORDERING FRANCISCO BAY
SUPPOSED POISON,
ONLY BAKING SODA
Strange White Powder Found in
Mrs Martins Cell Proves
Harmless

OAKLAND, Dec. 21.-The strange
white powder with which Mrs. Isa-
bella ]. Martin was thought to have
attempted suicide after being sem
fenced to life imprisonment Saturday
is common baking soda. An analysis
by chemist disclosed that fact to-
day and robbed Mrs. Martins intentions
OF much of their terror. The fact re-
mains, however, that the woman was
in possession of a large quantity of
powdered glass, found with the baking
soda, and had she swallowed the glass
her death would have ensued
Mrs. Martin had her Mysteries and
fainting spells Saturday without the
aid OF either of the compounds, and a
careful watch is being kept over her
TO prevent a repetition Of the alarm
winch she gave the jail authorities
aIter leaving the courtroom.
Having recovered her euuanimity
Mrs Martin today announced her plan
TO write her autobiography. Since her
connnement In the county Jail she has
written reams which it was thought
she intended to aid in her defense. Lit
tie OF her writing was in evidence dur
ing the trial, SO she may have a long
start on the story of her life.
She confirmed the fact that she was
sister of the famous Biddie brothers.
whose daring forgeries resulted in
heaVy losses to the Bank of England.
me lnoidents connected with the swim
ollng, as she remembers it, will be in
|corporated in her book, she said.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-22
HISTORIC BELL TO
END LONG SILENCE
Bronze Blessed in Madrid Will
Peal Forth in Joyous Mes
sage Christmas Day

SAN LEANDRO, Dec. 21.-An historic
old bronze bell, presented to the parish
Of St. John in the Spanish days by Don
luis Maria Peralta. is to be tolled again.
after a silence OF nearly a decade.
Christmas day. Yesterday 1t was hung
in the belfry of the new church edifice
with imposing ceremonies, performed
BY Enrique da Silva, bishop of Ira
janopolis and uncle to the late king
of Portugal. Ho was assisted by Rev.
Father O'Mahoney and Rev. Father
Sousa of San Leandro.
The old bell was cast in Madrid
century ago. and was specially blessed
1t was brought around Cape Horn by
Spanish mariner, who gave it to Don
Luis Maria Peralta. Peralta then was
one of the owners of the famous Pc
ralta grant, on which Oakland, Berke-
ley and Alameda are built. He in
turn gave the bell to the San Leandro
parish. then IN the largest town of the
county. For several years the old
bell sounded the angelus to the field
workers.
Then it was disused for some time,
and several years 1870 the mission of
st. Leandro turned it over to the new
St Johns parish. In hanging the
old bell the workers took care yester-
day that no sound was struck from
IL. 1t will break silence again with
the mathis Of nativity day.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-22
MISSION PREPARES FOR
NEW YEARS EVE FIESTA
Plans for Monster Celebration
in District Are Rapidly
Nearing Completion

Preparations for the New Years eve
celebration in the Mission are now
nearing completion. According to the
plans OF the various committees in
charge Of the celebration the Mission
viii have q Mardi Gras such as has
never been witnessed on the Pacific
coast
Mission and Valencia streets from
Thirteenth 10 Thirtieth streets. and
sixteenth and Twenty second streets.
are literally plastered with Christmas
trees. japanese lanterns. garlanCs and
bells Five thousand trees are being
used in the decorations.
The celebration win commence early
ia the evening. A monster Mardi Gras
procession viii start at Mission and
sixteenth streets and move out MIS-,
sion street TO Twenty-second. 1t VIII
then move UP Twenty second street and
come back Valencia 10 Sixteenth. IN
the parade viii be handsome floats,
grOtesQue costumes. about 100 auto
mobiles. several bands-ano-nolS
Confetti. serpentines, horns and other
instruments that win make noise will
be distributed by the association TO the
women. Several of the Mission mer-
chants will give away horns and bells
Red fire will be burned during the pa
rade and at every corner in the Mis-
sion district
Cash prizes are TO be awarded to the
Improvement clubs having the most
hand some floats and displays Cos
turner's viii also be awarded prizes for
grotesQHeness and uniqueness- me
committee VIII meet in the rooms OF
the Mission Promotion association at
10 O'Clock this morning to perfect its
plans. The members Of the committee
are:
Dewey Coffin. chairman: c. II. Brown,
Henry Feige, Colonel W. NJ Kelly,
Never Clark. James Rolph Jrs i. j.
Churchill, Behrend Joost and 5. J. Laz-
arus
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-22
STEEL MEN AFTER
PREFERENTIAL RATE
Plan Fight to Secure Special
Freight Tariff From Points
East of Mississippi River

fight TO secure preferential
freight rate on structural steel and
plate materials from points east of the
Mississippi to Pacific coast terminals
was inaugurated yesterday at meet
ing held I'm the assembly rooms OF the
structural steel and ornamental iron
branch of the California metal trades
association in the Hooker & Lent
building. in Market street The meet
ing was attended by iron and steel
manufacturers of the Pacific coast and
presided over by ]. NJ. Robinson of the
keystone boiler works. The meeting
was under the auspices of the Califor-
MIA metal trades association. OF which
Edward j. Fowler of the Pacific foun-
dry is president.
Committees appointed at yesterdays
meeting will today confer with George
w. Luce of the Southern Pacific Ed
ward Chambers of the Santa Fe and
other resident railroad officials in an
effort to secure a differential rate be-
tween plain and fabricated steel and
plate material.
A large delegation will be sent to the
meeting of the Transcontinental freight
bureau. which convenes in Chicago in
January.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-22
COUNTY STATUTES
LEGALIzE GRAFT
Grand Jury Says Laws Enable
Officials to Drain Treasury
in Printing Contracts

OAKLAND, Dec. 21.-That the county
government act, on the statutes OF the
state. legaIizes graft in the purchase of
printing supplies for the county gov
eminent. is The opinion OF District At
torney Donahue and members of the
grand jury. The opinion was formed
after two months experience with the
device of centralizing all purchasing in
the office Of a purchasing agent. So
strong is the opinion that an effort
viii be made to have the. coming state
legislature change the Jaw as the only
solution of the difficulty and the only
method which Will entirely end the
possibilities Of graft in that direc-
tion-
An instance occurring in the asses
Eor's Office gave a concrete illustration
Of the workings of this law and the
impossibilities OF affecting material
savings for the county when heads OF
departments are in favor of the old
graft.
Assessor Dalton purchased 80 books
for use during the coming year, for
which he paid the full price estab-
lshed in the schedule. The amount
was SI521 and the books were ordered
delivered in July, 1908.
c. Leidecker Of Fruitvale offered TO
print the lot at a cost 20 per cent
less than the rate, which would have
resulted in a saving of 1904. Purchas-
ing Agent ID. McLaren did not know
that the books had been printed and
he informed Leidecker that it would
be necessary for him TO secure the
consent Of dalton before The order could
be placed. Leidecker went to Dalton
and learned that the books were al
ready on hand and had been paid for.
The fact then developed that Nc
I.aren would have TO secure the con-
sent OF Dalton before he could have
placed the order with Leidecker. If
Dalton had insisted on placing the or
der as he did with firm of his own
choice, and that firm had charged the
full schedule price. there is no alterna-
tive under the law but TO pay.
Heads Of departments can absolutely
shut off the advantages to be gained
from competitive bidding for printing
81 they choose as the law now stands.
Only in cases where no firms are
specified by the official giving the or
der can bids be called for. To cor
rect this condition requires an amend
ment Of machine made state laws
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-22
BANKRUPTCY AFFAIRs

Creditors of the Northern California
Gold Mines company filed a petition
Yesterday in the United States district
court asking that the corporation be
declared an involuntary bankrupt. Ac-
cording to the petition the mining com
Cone s3S5.50, Rix compressed air and
drill company s17S.10. and John A.
Roebling's Sons company s665.S5. The
mines of the company are In Placer
county and the sheriff OF that county
was restrained by the court from sell
ing any of the property. The case was
set for hearing January 2. 1909.
Oscar Walfred Gustafson borrowed
money at 10 per cent a. month. The
amount was s6S1.20. and yesterday, to
clear himself from the usurers, he filed
a petition in bankruptcy. He has no
assets. Gustafson is a motorman liv-
ing in oakland
Alexander NJ. Macpherson of 23S
Chattanooga street filed a petition in
bankruptcy. His liabilities are s3,04S
with no assets.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-22
DEED OF HANBURY
TO WIFE RECORDED
''For Love and Affection Is
Consideration for SCI Acres
in Napa County

NAPA, Dec. 21.-"For love and af-
lection S6T acres of the most fertile
land in Napa county. known as Island
No. ? and valued at $100. 600. became the
property of Mrs. David T. Hanbury. the
deed having been fled IN this city to-
day by Judge ]. III. O'Leary, legal ad-
wiser to David IT. Hanbury, the multi
millionaire. This is only small por-
ton of the big Christmas gift the for
nler Benicia hello girl has received.
for Hanbury. in effecting q reconeilia-
tion, turned over valuable properties
estimated at $4.0o0.000. Upon her hus-
bands death. the former Berkeley col
lege widow will come into full pos
session OF the vast estate among
summer homes in this state. champagne
wineries in France and England and
vast mining interests on this. coast.
Owing TO the fact that the legal resi-
.dence of the Hanburys is in this county,
the deed was recorded here. The dOcu-
ment recites that the multimiIlionaire
gives the land to his wife. Mrs. Marie
Eleanor Hanbury, "for love and affec-
tion that he bears for her and for her
better support and maintenance" The
deed is dated October 21. 1908. and has
been in possession of O'Leary and
Charles Faddon, the millionaires pri-
vate secretary, for two months
1t had been reported that relatives
OF Hanbury who were hostile to the
marriage would take immediate steps
to prevent the transference Of the val
liable property to the young woman
put when the deed was fled today no
protest was entered.
Searchers of records in this city have
oeen preparing abstracts of other par
cells or valuable land included in the
Hanoury possessions. and additional
instruments conveying the property to
MRS. Hanbury will be fled soon.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-22
WANTS COMPLAINT
in FORGERY CASE
District Attorney of Alameda
County Will Act Against
Signor on Order

No move viii be made by District At
torney Donahue of Alameda county in
the forgery embroglio between Million
aire James A. Murray, Frederick Is.
Signor and William G. Henshaw and
Tyler Henshaw until formal COM
plaint is laid before him. The district
attorney said yesterday tnat he was
willing to give Murray complaint on
which warrant can be issued, if
Murray asks for one. Otherwise the
question will not be given consid-
GRAFTON by Donahue.
This is not the kind of an alleged
criminal action which ] can handle of
my own volition." said Donahue. TT is
different from murder or a crime of
that sort In case like this the in
jured party will have to ask for as
sistancef from the office. of prosecut-
ing attorney before it can be extended
to help him right his alleged wrongs.
/ know nothing of this case except
through reading the story in The Call.
I am by no means certain that the
forgeries of which Mr.. Murray com
planned were committed in Alameda
county. l will say this. that Mr.. Muir
ray or any party to the case can get
a complaint from this office at any
time he asks for one
Donahue maintained that his atti-
tude was the customary one In cases
where proof of the commission of a
crime depended upon private inter-
ests.
Murray left the city yesterday for
his home in Monterey. but he said be-
fore going home that he had not given
up all hope of Furnishing Signor and
others who are suspected of being in
volved in the wholesale forging Of his
name to notes and drafts.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-22
DESTINATION OF
MAINE A MYSTERY
BattIeship Sails Under Sealed
Orders and May Be Bound
for Venezuela

WASHINGTON. Dec 21.-A deep
mystery surrounds the destination OF
the battleship Maine. which left Nor
folk today under sealed orders.
Neither the state nor the navy de-
partment officials viii make any state
ment on the subject more than TO say
that the vessel has gone on "a cruise.
and they Will neither deny nor affirm
rumors that the ship is bound for duty
I'm Venezuelan waters. The American
government is without any naval rep
resentatiOn in that immediate section
and should an outbreak against the ex-
listing government occur such AmeTi-
can interests as exist in the ports OF
La Guira. Port CabellO and Maracaibo
would have TO appeal to the navies of
foreign nations for protection.
The Maine is equipped with wireless
telegraphy and this offers a ready
method Of communication with the
United States if necessary. The Maine
is commanded BY Rear Admiral Con-
way H. Arnold, who was in Washin gton
in conference with the naval officially
This conference, IL IS understood. we
followed last night by a talk between
Secretary Root and Secretary New
berry.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-22
ISSUES CHRISTMAS EDITION

The Christmas edition of the Monitor,
the official organ of the Catholic arch
diocese of San Francisco was delivered
TO its subscribers Saturday 1t is re-
plete with accounts of the birth of
Christ.
On the front page of the paper is a
beautiful picture showing the birth of
the Savior. The story of the Shepherd
is also told and there are several poems
among which is one entitled Christ
mas Morn" written by Ida G. Klein of
Alameda. There is also an interesting
account of how Christmas daysis OBJ
served in Egypt.
Neil Barbata kinevan has contrib
uted a poem entitled THE Dolores Mis-
sion on Christmas Eve which is illus
trated by pictures of the old bells in
the belfry of San Francisco's first Cath
olic church.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-22
PAGE Is COMING TO
TEACH ROAD BUILDING
Federal Director Will illustrate
His Ideas in the Angeles
Forest

Logan Waller Page, director OF the
federal Office OF public roads. will start
for the coast shortly to give the citi-
zens OF Los Angeles the benefit of his
recent studies of foreign roads.
Page is one OF the leaders of the good
roads movement in the United States
and as Los Angeles has voted bonds
fo- good roads in that section his ad-
vice in the building of the roads was
sought.
TO illustrate. his ideas, Page will
build several miles of road in the An
geles forest, a government reserve
managed from the new forestry head
quarters in san Francisco by Forester
Carlton under the general direction Of
District Forester Olmsted.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-22
MILITIA OFFICERS ARE IN
CONFERENCE AT CAPITAL
National Guard Laws to Be
Changed to Conform to
Act of CONGRESS-

SACRAMENTO. Dec. 21.-A confer
ence of officers high in the militia of
California was held at the Office OF
Adjutant General Lauck this afternoon
for the purpose of drafting, in COM
pliance with the Dick act of congress.
new set of laws governing the ma
tional guard of this state.
Besides General I1auck there were
present Colonel Thomas Wilhelm, as
sistant inspector general; Judge Advo-
cate General Colonel George Fl. Pippy,
Colonel Winslow Anderson, surgeon
general, and Colonel A. w. Bradbury,
assistant adjutant general.
The Dick act places the militia sec
ond to the regular army and requires
that it be governed by the same rules
and regulations in force in the regular
army.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-22
FALLEN TREE BLOCKS
AN ELECTRIC TRAIN
Passengers Finally Reach Sau-
salito to Find the Ferry
Boat Gone

CORTE MADEIRA. Dec. 21.-Italian
wood choppers at the mouth of the
Corte MADEIRA tunnel of the North
western electric railroad fallen gum
tree and the block system caused a
general tieup of the electric line this
morning. One of the eucalyptus trees
felled by the wood choppers crashed
into the electric lines which carry the
current to operate the block signals
A down train was stopped on the other
side of the tunnel by the danger sig
nal suddenly going up. For twenty
minutes conductor and engineer
waited for another train to emerge
from the tunnel, but it did not come.
Ten more minutes were spent in To-
eating the trouble. There was more
trouble at Sausalito. The ferry had
gone, a few more minutes were
wasted by the belated passengers.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-22
vIsALIA TIMES SPECIAL

Subscribers of the Visalia Daily Times
were agreeably surprised last week TO
receive the Christmas edition of the
paper In addition to the usual num-
ber of pages devoted to local news of
Tulare county, there are about 20
pages of short stories, both for chill
dren and grown ups. illustrated with
half tone cuts. There are several
pages of stories and poetry for the
amusement of the little ones. There
are also two pages set aside for
fashions and in cooking recipes. The
outside pages are of excellent quality
OF paper, on which are beautiful
drawings of Christmas characters.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-22
Nem service to Mexico

WASHINGTON. Dec. 21.-Consul
Smith of Victoria reports that a Seat
tie firm has chartered two German
steamers, the Ella and Erna, to inau-
gurate a regular freight and passen-
ger service between Puget sound. Vic
toria, southern California and Mexican
ports. The Mexican government is re-
ported to have given the promoters
substantial subsidy. Service is to COM
mence in January. The two steamers
are 900 tons net register and have
accommodations for 64 first and "a
second class passengers.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-22
CARELESSNESS OF ARMY
CAPTAIN COSTS S4,O43.35
Volunteer Officer Who Failed to
Keep Commissary Accounts
Must Paw Shortage

1t was determined yesterday by
Judge Van Fleet that John J. West,
formerly a captain in the volunteers
serving in the Philippines, owed the
United States s4,O43.35. West while in
the islands was for a time in charge
of the commissary. During that time
he kept no accounts of goods received
and given out, there being a shortage
of the amount decided on by the court.
His actions were not of a criminal
nature. as he did not try to defraud
the government but was merely care
less in his business duty.
The San Francisco call., 1908-12-22
RENO HAS A CLAIMANT
FOR SPRINGER ESTATE
Southern Pacific Yardmaster
Wants His Share of
$50. 900 900 HOLDINGS

RENO, New, Dec. Ell. +. Springer
yardmaster of the Southern Pacific
company at Reno, is a third claimant
for a share in the estate of Christopher
Springer, said to be German baron
who died leaving property worth $780,
100000 in Wilmington, Del. Springer
says his grandfather and the grand
mother of Arizona and William Lyle Of
ST. Louis. who also claim a share in
the estate, We're brother and sister and
that he is a lineal descendant of Baron
Christopher Springer. He has wired
TO Wilmington, DEL setting forth his
claims