New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-08
ON THE PACIFIC SLOPE
~ TeLcsraph 70 The Trihune. ]

rPv Telegraph 70 The Trihunel
san Francisco, June The trustees Of
the T. N. Smith estate are having much
,-,uble 10 determine the real condition
- the various companies in the "borax
ri,rs" holdings This week it leaked
ont that the United Light and Power
Company had defaulted on the interest
:, us debenture trust notes, and that
smith had borrowed 5000 from the
west End Mining Company. Of Tonopah,
giving as collateral realty per cent
bonds The trustees have made no prog
rsss in selling any OF Smiths properties.
although there have been rumors Of ne
rotiatons FOR the sale Of the traction
companies in Oakland and the reorCanl-
,ation OF the United Properties Company.
Several reports have been printed here
this week Of the sale Of Bay Farm Island.
which lies Just south OF Alameda. 10 the
Hil lines for terminal facilities. No one
seems able 70 give definite facts. but II
is certain that a large contracting firm
that has built much OF the Western Pa
ciAc has recently come into the owner
shin Of the most valuable holdings on the
island Whether Hill or some large min
Ing concern has purchased the property,
the result Will be Of advantage TO San
Francisco.
The May sales Of automobiles broke all
records for California, according TO the
state registration at Sacramento. Last
month S7aS automobiles We're sold FOR
S5a60o0 No less than 1O-69S automobiles
have been registered since May. 1905
when the registry department was estab-
Gshed Figuring the population Of Cali
fornia as 100000, this gives one automo-
BILE 10 every twenty-three persons.
The tax rate for San Francisco for next
year probably will be 50 "A on 500. the
largest in the history Of the city. Before
the fire when san Francisco had one Of
the smallest debts Of any American city.
II was only 81 u on 500 And yet IN the
face Of this enormous increase many are
clamoring for the issue Of bonds for such
Improvements as municipal railroads and
other expensive experiments.
Whatever may be the displays made ny
the various nations at the Panama-Pa-
cifc Exposition. the amusement features
promise 20 be the most varied and ingeni-
Gus that have ever been given al a
worlds fair VI. u. DeYOung. Who is in
charge OF this department Of concessions
reports that no fewer than 600 apphca-
lions have been made for privileges, and
that seventy-hve have already been
granted. representing an expenditure OF
$4,000. Seven thousand persons Will be
employed in these concessions and the
total investment viii be S20D.O0. Among
the largest concessions will be the Grand
Canyon OF Arizona by the Santa be
Railroad. the Panama Canal To- cost
10000, the evolution OF the dreadnoJght,
to show the development Of the Ameri-
can navy. 10 cost $1,000. old Nurem-
berg. costing $1,000. and the ~
Mining Camp 10 cost $4,000 Chairman
Burt OF the concessions department Of
fers a SEASONS free pass 10 the person
who suggests the best title fOr the
amusement highway az the exposition.
This week saw the retirement Of the
horsecars that for more than twenty years
have run from the terminus Of the suffer
street road Al its junction with Sansome
and Market streets. 10 the ferry. These
cars for years have been a great eyesore.
and the occasion Of their withdrawal was
made a ceremony I'm which the MAYOR and
the pgh officials OF the United Railroads
took part The day also marked the first
exchange Of transfers between the United
Railroads and the Geary street municipal
line az Fillmore and Disvisadoro streets,
and the first car OF the suffer street line
10 20 direct 20 the ferry. 30 ends a long
warfare between the city and the big
sireetcar company 70 the great advantage
q the travelling public.
The old Fife property. At the southwest
corner OF Jones and California streets, was
sold this week for the fifth time since the
earthquake The f-st price was $4,000
and the latest $1,000 The purchaser Will
erect an apartment house on the lot.
Northern and Central California are
threatened with a rrasshopper pest that
Dds fair 10 destroy much OF the fruit and
Iseo OF a dozen counties. In the Sacra-
mento Valley, Tehama, Glenn and Placer
counties, alfalfa and young orchard trees
nave suffered heavily as well as in Fresno
county, In the San Joaquin Valley. Horti-
cultural Commissioner Cook and other ex-
perts are trying various remedies 10 end
The scourge.