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PACIFIC COAST NEWS. Important Gathering of Grape-Growers. LEGISLATIVE PROPOSITIONS. Valuable Property Consumed by Fire at Hanford—Doings in Railroad Circles. I Asociatcd Press Dispatches to the HiraLd. I San Francisco, March (i.—The Grape-Growers' and Wine-Makers' Association met here to-day. Louis D. Comb, of San Jose, presided. A set of articles for incorporation of the Wine Exchange was reported by the committee in charge of the movement. THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS This afternoon resulted as follows: Presidents, H. W. Mclntyre, of Vina, Cal.; Vice-President, W. McPherson F. T. Eisen, Jno. T. Doyle, E. AY. Maslin and J. De Barth Short; Treasurer,'H. 11. Kohler; Secretary, E. H. Rixford; Directors, A. G. Chance, H. W. Crabb, T. J. Rose, M. M. Estee and J. B. J. Portal. RESOLUTIONS ON TAXATION. After the annual election of officers a resolution submitted by H. W. Crabb, Chairman of the Committee on the Internal Revenue Tax, was taken up. The first clause to the effect that the special internal revenue tax system should be abolished, was adopted. Over the second clause, de manding that the internal revenue tax on fruit spirits should bo reduced to not exceed fifty cents per gallon, there was much debate, several speak ers holding that the internal revenue tax on spirits should be abolished altogether. Finally the following resolution was substituted for the Original one: "Tbat, in order to equal ize the cost of the production, the tax on fruit spirits should be forly cents less a gallon thau on other spiri s, and that at the present rate of taxation the tax un fruit spirits should be reduced to fifty cents." Tlie remaining clauses of the reso lution were carried as submitted and the following addilional ones added : Resolved: l'hat the privilege of bonding be extended to all producers of fruit brandies. Resolved: Ihat an additional duty of 20 cents per gallon should be placed on all imported wines containing more than 15 per cent, of alcohol. Resolved: That the duty on foreign fruit juices should be at least 50 cents per gallon and when containing more than 15 per cent, of alcohol should pay an additional tax of $2. on each gallon of alcohol in excess contained therein. Resolved: That the bonding period should be extended from three to five years. Resolved: That the law should be so amended that fruit brandy in bond may be transferred into smaller pack ages to suit the requirements of the * trade. Resolved: That fruit brandy may be bottled and cased in bond and may be exported in bottles and cases free of internal revenue duty or its with drawal on payment of tax. Resolved: That the law should be ho amended that fruit spirits may be free of tax in fortifying sweet wines, and that all brandy should be marked by gauges of the year in which it is distilled. We recommend that Con gress pass a law protecting the purity of wine and forbidding the manufac ture and sale of spurious wines. Resolved: Tbat the duty on im ported raisins should not be less than two cents per pound. Resolved: That Congress be respect fully requested to pass a law authoriz ing the President to appoint a Com missioner-General to represent the United States in the proposed exhibi tion to be held in Paris. THE WINE EXCHANGE H. W. Crabb was empowered to appoint a committee from through out tlie different wine-producing counties to solicit subscriptions to ward the proposed exchange and to call a meeting and otherwise carry on all business tending towards the es tablishment of the exchange. The matter of sending a delegate to represent the United States at the Madrid conference, was taken up and it was resolved to submit the name of Fred. Hohndorff to the authorities in Washington, and to ask the Inter national Commissioners to devise means to provide for his expenses. A uDsiiucrivn inn:. Considerable Damage Done to Property at Hanford. Hanford, March 6, —About 8 o'clock last evening, Frank Pryor dis covered that the tear of his store was on fire. The fire was under such headway that he was able to save but few goods, and in a few minutes three buildings in the range were ad burning. The losses of the losers are as follows: Frank Pryor, stock, .$2,800, insured for $2,235; H. A. Burke, frime building, $800, insured for $500; Mrs. M. Corey, frame building, $1,200, insured for $800; J. C. Davis, saloon, stock and furniture, $700, insurance, $500; G. Degiorgi, suloon, stock, $400, insured for $300; Boyce Bros., general merchandise stock, $4,000, in sured for $3,500; J. P. Boyce, frame building and store fixtures, $1,200, insured for $800. Everything being damp from recent rains and the peo ple working with a will and having a good supply of water, the fire was confined to the three buildings. It is supposed that the fire caught from an exploded lamp. TRAIN TOPICS. Superintendent Oaddls Due Here To-day. San Francisco, March (i. —A. A. Gaddis, General Superintendent of the Atlantic and Pacific, arrived in this city this morning in his special car. To-day, he while here, con tracted for a number of Chinese to work on the Mojave Desert in making the proposed improvements. Mr. Gaddis left this evening for Los An geles. He will make a tour of in pection of the Santa Fe lines in Southern California. Regarding the reported trouble with the brakemen on the A. & P., Mr. Gladdis said that there was no strike. The brakemen of tbe mountain divi sion had complained of not receiving as much compensation as those on other portions of the road and they asked that the wages apportioned should be equalized, which had been done. WILIIUR'S WHEREABOUTS. It waa learned to-day that T. R. Wilbur, of the San Francisco & San Joaquin Valley road, supposed to be in the eastern states, is ia London. Railroad men here assign two rea sons for his presence in the European metropolis. One of these is that he he has gone to contract for the pur chase of a large quantity of steel rails for use on tbe new line which he and his associates are building to afford the A. T. & 8. F. connection with Sau Francisco. UENERAL GOSSIP. A new train will soon be run on the Southern Pacific through the San Joaquin valley from Sumner to this city, arriving here daily at 5 :46 p. m The order of the Southern Pacific Company requiring prepayment of charges on goods shipped to Texas points has been rescinded. BASE BALL. Announcement of the Schedule for California. San Francisco, March 6. — The California Ha c .eball League has at last approved of the schedule for next season. The league will comprise four clubs, two in this city, one in Oakland and the other at Stockton. This season each club plays the same number, sixty-eight, championship games, and in order that these may be played,' the contests will occur on all holidays. The season will open in this city on March 25th, between the Haverlys and Pioneers and the Green hood and Morans and Stocktons start the season at Stockton. The same teams close the season in both ci'ies. M'CARTHY IN DEMAND. Manager Robinson, of the Green hood and Morans is makingstronuoi l efforts to secuie the release of Mc- Carthy, the pitcher of the Kansas City team, who made such a good showing with the" Los Angeles Club last winter. He has made several offers for McCarthy's release and wired the Kansas City people an offer to-day, which he thinks will be ac cepted. prizes for players. New York, March o.—The Ameri can Baseball Association has resolved to give the club winning the champion ship a purse of $1,000 in addition to a pennant, and to each player of the club a handsome badge. 'J he club holdinc second place will get $750, and the third place $500. These awards add interest to the contests of the coming season. NEARLY DROWNED. Cnplcasunt Experiences of Two Sailors. San Francisco, March 6. —Fred Grannamaun and Peter Nelson, two sailors who arrived in this city this evening, give an account of a narrow escape from drowning they experi enced at Fish Rock, Mendocino county, last Sunday. The two men got in a small boat to loosen the linos of a tug, so that she could put to sea as it was very dangerous lying at Fish Rook daring the storm. The waves almost filled the boat with water, but tho men succeeded in bail ing it out with their hats. After bat tling with the waves for five hours they drifted asho c near Point Arena, whore the light-house keeper gave tliein shelter. The crew of the Reli ance had given them up as lost. COAST QCARAVJTNE. Congress to be Memorialized for the Necessary Station. San Francisco, March (i.—The establishment of a quarantine station upon the Pacific Coast has become more than ever a question of impor tance. A bill has been introduced in the United States Senate by Senator Stanford, providing for a quarantine station. It is not yet law, but efforts will be made to secure its early passage. At a meeting of the recently appointed committee, to night, it was decided to address a memorial to Congress urging that it may become a law. A committee, consisting of Mayor Pond, Dr. Rosen stein and Collector Hagar, were ap pointed to draw up a memorial. A DYNAMITE IMS is I Die. Two Men Badly Injured at Spo kane Falls. Spokane Falls, March 6. —This evening as Joe E. Davenport and Peter Paulson were drying some giant powder for blasting, it was dis charged. The tin can in which it was drying, was blown to fragments, an t found a lodgment in the head and left side of Davenport, almost piercing his heart. It is feared that he will not recover. Paulson was b'idly hurt, but not fatally. The building where the explosion occurred was blown to at oms. A great deal of powder was stored near by, which, by a miracle, was uot exploded. Cold Weather on Mt. Hamilton San Francisco, March O.—H. E. Matthews, Secretary of the Lick Trust, has returned from Ml. Hamil ton, where he has been engaged in making photographic views of the great tube and its surroundings. He states that the people at the mountain were snowed in from Friday last until the following Monday. At no por tion of the summit was the snow less than two feet in depth during that time. I out Play Suspected. Sacramento, March 6. —A man named Damon was removed from an alley where he was found, lying to the police station where he died shortly after. He was known to have had considerable money, but only a few dollars were found on him, and it is believed that he died from the effects of a drug administered to him. A. M. Straus and Katie Cooper have been arrested on suspicion. A Test Case Decided. Monterey, March ti.—The test case of the City of Monterey against C. K. Tuttle, a resident of Pacific Grove, who refused to pay the city tax, claim ing that the Grove was out of the jur isdiction of Monterey, was tried to-day before the Justice of the Peace. The jury decided that Monterey had the power to collect in the Grove, and defendant was fined $25. Irrigation in Colusa County. Maxwell, Cal., March 6.—The di rectors of the Central Irrigation Dis trict met to-day in regular session. An estimate for the cost of canal con struction was received from Chief Engineer C. E. Grunsky, being $6ti, --895. The Board increased the amount to $75,000 and ordered an election for bonds to be held on the first Monday in April. fA Memorial for Stephens. Sacramento, March 6. —There is a movement on foot among the thous ands of employes of the railroad shops in this city to erect a monument to the memory of the late A. J. Steph en?, master mechanic of tbe S juthern Pacific Company. LOS ANGELES HERALD: WEDNESDAY MORNING. MARCH 7, 1888. FOREIGN AFFAIRS. Prince Fritz's Condition Slightly Improved. ASSURING MEDICAL OPINION. Ferdinand Anxious to be Pro claimed Kins:.—Conditions of the Lottery Loa i. (Associated thePress'Dispatches toHKBAi.r. j Berlin, March ti. —Tho Reich Ar. m teiger publishes an official bulletin, signed by all the physicians in attend ance on the Crown Prince. They deny having reported differences cf opinion, and do not maintain that an immediate turn iB imminent. The patient appears to be progressing favorably at present, and the respons ibility for his treatment is directly in Dr. Mackenzie's hands. SAN REMO DISPATCHES. London, March ti.—A San Remo dispatch from a trustworthy source pays: Professor Waldmeyer has found no proof of cancer in the matter coughed up by the Crown Prince. San Remo, March 0. —The Crown Prince passed an excellent night. There was a decided reduction in the throat discharge. He feels refreshed to-day. The Crown Prince walked in the garden to-day. ITALIAN SYMPATHY, Rome, March o.—The Chamber of Deputies to-day unanimously adopted a resolution expressing sympathy with the Uerman Crown Prince and a hope for his recovery. LONDON JOTTI'tiS. interesting Items Gathered at the World's metropolis. London, March 6. —Gilhooly, Mem ber of Parliament, was to-day convict ed at Schall, county Cork, for offenses under the Crimes act, and sentenced to two months' imprisonment without hard labor. Snelling, an English Home Rule delegate, has been arrested at Limer ick for offenses under the Crimes act. Wilfred Blunt was released from tho Tullainore jail to-day. It has been decided to give .loseph Chamberlain a public reception at Birmingham, on his return from America. The winner of the coursing contest for the Waterloo cup was Burnaby, not Dingwell, as stated in last night's dispatches. Tho Prince Anton Radziv. ill and his son will represent Emperor Wil liam at the Prince of Wales' silver wedding. The Prince of Wales has arrived in London from the continent. The Crown Prince of Austria, who will arrive here on March 17, will bo the guest of the Queen. Mrs. Proctor, widow of Barry Corn wall, is dead. Advices received here state that an emeute has occurred in Eastern Rou melia and that forty officers have been arrested on charges of high treason. Counts Karl and Emanuel Bubna, of Brunn, Austria, are bankrupt. Their liabilities amount to 000,000 florins, half of which is due to usurers. The Duke of Leinster has been ap pointed Irish Jury Councilor. THE LOTTERY LOAN. Conditions Laid Down by the Panama Canal Hill. Paris, March (>#—The Panama Canal Loan Bill proposes that the bonds shall bear not less than 3 per cent, interest; that the prize moneys shall not exceed one per cent, of the capital borrowed; that the nom inal value of the bonds shall not be under 300 francs and that the redemption of the loan and money shall be guaranteed by investments in state securities. Other articles authorize the Canai Company to convert into similar bonds those already issued and bind the company to deal only with French firms for all implements, supplies, etc., necessary to complete the canal. THE LAND OF THE AZTECS, Bragg; to Negotiate a New Com mercial Treaty. City op Mexico, via Galveston, March 0. — Reports are in cir culation that it is not unlikely that Minister Braggwill take up the general subject of commercial relations between Mexico and the United States with a view to negotiating a treaty of friendship, c >mmerce and reciprocity, the old treaty having lapsed. There is a great desire here on the part of rail way managers and Americans engag ed in mining and commercial busi ness to have their inteiesta protected by a good treaty such as French and Germans residing here enjoy. FERDINAND'S FIGHT. He Intends to Call on Bulgaria To Proclaim II lm King. Paris, Match 6.—A telegram from St. Petersburg says that Prince Fordin and, of Bulgaria, is preparing a mani festo in reply to the expected ulti matum of the powers regarding the Bulgarian question, in which he will proclaim Bulgaria a kingdom, and call upon the people to crown him king. A MESSAGE FROM TURKEY. London, March tj.—Constantinople dispatches say: "In accordance with the demands of Russia, the Porte has notified Prince Ferdinand that his po sition in Bulgaria is illegal." Prince William's Counselors. Berlin, March 6. —The National Ga zette says that General Willich will be re appointed as Military Adviser, Pro fessor Greist as one of the Civil Coun selors and Herr yon Brandenstein as Second Counselor to Prince William. Accident to Col. Stevenson. San Francisco, March 6. —Col. J. D. Stevenson, the old commander of the famous "California Hundred," white crossing tho street to-day to the Palace Hotel, was struck down and run over by a horse and buggy driven by two ladies. As the Colonel is 87 years' old and feeble in health, the shock has prostrated him. He seemed to be severely affected. San Qneutiii for Life. Auburn, Cal., March 6.—To-day Judge Meyers sontenced John San some, the Michigan Bluffs stage r3b ber, to San Quentin for life. Quarreled About Tbcir Flocks. Holbrook, A. T., March 6.—Last Sunday near St, Johns, Alex Rudd shot instantly killing a sheep herder named M. C. Caw. The difficulty was over some sheep. Immediately after the. killing Rudd mounted a horse and fled to the mountaine. A posse is in pursuit. Steam and Sail. San Francisco, March o.—The Cal ifornia and Mexican Steamship Com pany will replace the Newbern on the line between this city and Guaymas, Mexico. The new boat will start on her first trip on the Kith inst. To lie Docked for Hi pairs. San Francisco, March 6.—The steamer George W. Elder is to be lain off for repairs. Sho will go north in about six weeks, and on and after April 23d will run between Portland and Alaskan ports. Sailed for Japan. Vancouver, B. C, March 8. —The steamship Abysinia sailed to-day for Yokohama with forty live passengers. AMUSEMENTS. «• My Gcraldine" and "A Night in Venice" Holding the Boards. My Geraldine is scarcely meeting with the succets it deserves at the Grand Opera House. The bouse last night was not much of an improve ment on that of the opening on Mon day, ami the building looks very de serted when one remembers the vast congregations there during the pro ceeding week. The members of the company play well together, and the light singing introduced is very ac ceptable, the rendition of "Norah" by Mrs. Harry Bloodgood being deserv edly encored. The play, as its name implies, is written on Irish lines, and abounds with the wit suggested by tbe subject. It will remain on the bills during the rest of the week. The Pike Opera Company. A Night in Venice drew as large an audience to the Pavilion last night as that which greeted it on the open ing night. The local allusions made by tbo Venetian Senators, though rather mal d propos to the scene, are very happily received, and the trio occasion hearty laughter by their many amusing antics on the stage. Mr. DeLange deserves great credit for tho manner in which he sustains his part, as it is evident to the audience that he is laboring under the disad vantage of a very severe cold. The waltz song which is introduced in the second act is a very pretty refrain and quite on a par with Strauss' other productions. No change will be made in the pro gramme to-night, and to-morrow will be produced Bucalossi's famous oper etta, Les Manleaux Noirs. REV. DR. LEVY'S LECTURE. The Aim and Tendency of Mod ern Thought. A large and cultured audience -as sembled last evening in Masonic Hall on South Spring strpet, to listen to a lecture on "The Aim and Tendency of Modern Thought," by Rev. Dr. M. S. Levy, of Oakland. The exercis.s were opened by Mr. L. Stern, the President of the association, introduc ing Rev. Dr. Sohrieber, of this city, who delivered a brief, but eloquent address upon the aim and object of the Young Men's Hebrew Association of this city, and congratulated the so ciety upon its establishment on a broad, charitable aud liberal found ation. Ho closed by introducing Dr. Levy, who delivered one of the finest lectures ever heard in this city. The lecturer took the ground that the aim and tendency of modern thought was a constant seeking after a higher knowledge to wrest aside and pierce the thick veil of materialism that ob scures the bright world beyond. He drew many touching and beautiful illustrations from allegory, from science and from history, to demon strate his ideas and had his audi ence spell-bound by his eloquence. Tho lecture was thoroughly enjoyed by the large audience, whose only re gret seemed to be that it was but too short. The exercises closed with a short address of thauks by President Stern. The Young Men's Hebrew Association is of recent origin in this city, and has been established for social improvement, mental inter course and for charitable purposes and purest basis without regard to creed, sex or religion. The society numbers some sixty-five members, and is growing rapidly. Pullman Passengers. The following passengers left yester day on the 1 p. m. train: Mrs. H. A. Wilcox, C. F. Chaffe, Mrs. Emma Johnson, W. C. Taylor, A. W. Jackson, J. 1). Thomas, P. R. Johnson, J Bowles, Mrs. Dubro, G. E. Ronin, Mr. Burke, A. C. Shorthill, Frank W. Dyer, George M. Morse, J. E. Ttylor and wife. Hattie M Morse, D. T. Richards, J. W. Campbell, B. L. Millard, Mrs. White, H. H. Hick ney, E. T. Mills, O. Cushing, E. P' Gleason, H. T. Blair, Mr. Loughlrv, W. Oliver, W. A. Avery, M. H. New mark, L Howe, J. S. Stevens, F. R. Judd, W. Oliver, J. R. Stolls, George Morean. The following left on the 10:30 train: A. E Cady. M. H. Maltbie, VV. Roby, Mr. Howe, L. E. Motte, A. Meusnke, Mr. Haneisein, J. B. Roby, Mr. Lenon, M. C. Barnes, E. Burnett. A. M. Lawrence's Death. Word was received at a late hour last night that A. M. Lawrence, tlie Secretary of the Board of Trade, had died. Deceased has been sick for some time, and was reported to have the measles and a heavy cold, but it was not known that the disease had taken a turn for the worse. He had been Secretary of the Board of Trade and of the Produce Exchange for some years, and his death will be regretted by many. He was 34 years of age and leaves a wife and daughter to mourn his loss. Railroad Opening. This morning at 10 o'clock, the ex cursion to Whittier will start from the Commercial Street Depot. About a thousand invitations have been is sued by the Board of Trade and many of tbe most prominent citizens of Los Angeles will go to see, for the first time the enterprising town but four teen miles away. The opening of the railroad is quite an event for both Los Angeles and Whittier and it is expected that a number of eloquent speeches will be heard. The train will return at 4 p. if. Undelivered Telegrams. Undelivered telegrams at the West ern Union Telegraph Office, 17 North Main strest, 10 p. m., March 6th, 1888: James Dean, John H, Calvin, C.C- Pierce, Will H. Cox, George B. Ha woith, Winfried Raeker, J. A. Shea, Mrs. E. B. Black, Leon Clapmah, L. K. Dapman, Daniel Sheen, Mrs, R. P. Russell, Jr., Melville Cannon, A MARCH DAY. How Spent in Semi-Tropic California. THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY. The Excursion to the Big Pacoima Retaining Dam on Yesterday. Promptly at 9 a. m. yesterday, ac cording to previous announcement, a special train of sx cars pulled out from the Southern Pacilic depot in this city which contained nearly 200 people bound for the San Fernando valley, for Pacoima and Judge Wid ney's big retaining dam, which is to furnish water to irrigate 2,000 acres of land and for two towns. Getting across the river a little bit, the grade of the Glendale Railroad was seen paralleling the Southern Pacific Line past the Three-mile house and th n heading across the San Ra fael ranch toward the mouth of the Verduga canon. Glendale appears in the distance, a very promising town of a good deal of present develop ment. The next town is Tropica, which is situated immediately on the Southern Pacific line, and already has a very good start in its growth towards being a city. Then comes Burbank, a few miles further ou. This place has a handsome hotel, a fine brick block, a great many handsome houses, a population fast approximat ing 500, and all the signs of promise for a great future. Across the river is the Los Feliz homestead, with the Ostrich farm near by, to which the Dummy road is now operated. Just at the river crossing, below the Los Feliz farm house there is a bridge being built on which this road will cross. The roadbed is nearly all graded as straight as a bea flies, to Burbank. A large gang of graders is busy finish ing the roadbed. Further up is Pacoima, a spick and spun new town, with fountains of water running to waste in all the streets. A fine hotel is nearly complete, and there are half a dozen new houses, really fine residences, all complete and occupied, indicate that a town is sure to grow up at this point. Then comes San Fernando, where ihe train stopped and all ailighted. Judge Widney and Mr. R. P. Waite accompanied the people to this city, and at San Fernando, Senator Maclay met •be train with fully a hundred teams. Getting seats as they might, the ex cursion then started in a long proces sion to reach the mouth of the canon by a big detour which led over a greater portion of the Maclay ranch lying between the railroad and the mountains. San Fernando is growing at a great pace. New buildings stand on the mesa in all direction". Several artesian wells were passed, and also a lot of big reservoirs. These furnish an abundance of water to all the ranches and houses on the plain. The Maclay Theological College, a large and substantial biick building, towers up grandly in the center of all. THE DAM. In due course of time, after be ing carried for many miles over the country, which is all a foot deep in lush and sweet grasses, in springing crops of grain, and in bright wild flowers, the mouth of the canon was reached. Here all the party dispersed in small companies to inspect the work. This has all been described at length in the Herald, but for the benefit of those who may not have read that account, it may be well to state that at a point iv the canon where tlie banks approach to within GOO feet the dam is built. At the shoulders of the hills bedrock was laid bare. All tbe distance be tween a trench ranging from forty seven to fifty-three feet deep was dug, and in this was laid a wall. The footing of this is imbedded in the rock some eight inches all along. It is built on solid masonry, the best cement and granite boulders, two feet three inches wide, and so as to rise some three or four feet above the sur face of the ground. Above the dam pipes are laid which lead the water into two wells each eight feet in diameter These serve as reservoirs. Pipes dip to a depth of twenty feet into these, through which the water flows out and onto the land below, reaching Pacoima, some ten miles away. A large stream of water flows at all seasons below this bed of gravel. The space above the dam is 1000 feet wide. Back to a distance of nearly twice that amount iv feet, and fifty feet deep, the interstices between the the gravel will be filled with water. This will filter through the clean granite gravel, enter the wells, pass through the pipes, and thus be distributed to the plain below. That the retaining dam is serving the purpose for which it was intended is proved by the fact that the gravel below the dam is free of water, while that above is like a perfectly saturated sponge. The stream below the gravel has been cut off and forced to the surface, where it must enter the pipes. The cost of this great work has reached $35,000. A SPEECH. Judge Widney explained all this to the assembly. He said Los Angeles streams run bottom up, that is, below many feet of gravel, be cause the soil had not been washed into the sea. The detritus from the mountains, tich in fertiliz ing properties, is washed into the cations and onto the plains. In the East the soil has all been washed in to the seas. The whole country there is on bed-rock as well as the rivers. Here the water flows below fifty or one hundred or more feet of fine soil, and can be forced to the surface by such retaining dams as this, or brought up by artesian wells. This is a great advantage in our favor. The Judge spoke glowingly of the past progress of the county. He told of a man to whom he attempted to Bell the Laguna ranch for $3 an acre, but it was thought too high a price. Then he tried to sell it to the same man for $30, but he was again afraid to venture. It is now worth at least $510 an acre. It comes right up to Los Angeles city on the southeast. SENATOR MACLAY. Judge Widney called on Senator Maclay and Mr. H. L. Macneil to lay the cap stone of the dam. The Senator first told how he had bought this ranch in 1874, for $117,000, or $2.17 per acre. All the people told him it would be his ruin, that it was a desert, that wheat would not grow there. Last year tbe San Fernando valley produced 400,000 sacks of wheat, and a shipload of barley. The mesa is now being covered with orange orchards, peach, pear and other fruit trees. The stone was laid, and Doctor Bovard, President of the University of Southern California, followed in a brief address, closing with an invitatbn to all to turn to and partake of a sumptu.us lunch, including a barbecued beef prepared by the generous promoters of the ex cursion, and served with a nameless graco by the good ladies of San Fer nando. The party did ample justice to the feast. THE SOURCE OF THE WATER. The water is flowing at least 2,000 inches strong in the canon to-day. The stream heads up in the moun tains near the Soledad cafion, 30 miles from the dam. The water shed embraces 300 square miles of territory. At times there are 10,000 inches in the stream. All through the spring and until June there runs as much as there is to-day. It only goes dry for a month or so at the end of the season. Then the wa ter is found running 2,000 inches strong up in the mountains, but reach ing the great gravel bed varying from 200 to 2,000 feet wide and 50 feet deep it sinks to the bed-rock. The dam will force this up again that it may be taken in pipes to irrigate the land be low. There will be one inch of water to every 10 acres of land belonging to the company. THE RETURN. After lunch the party were taken in the vehicles by another route to Pacoima townsite, where the train was in waiting to return to the city. The journey to the train was made over miles of the same sort of coun try traversed on the other side of the wash on the way up. The soil is very rich, of practically an unlimited depth, and very easily worked. There cannot be found anywhere soil or climate better adapted to the most select industries known to the hus bandman. Trees of all sorts will flourish here to a degree of excellence that may challenge the world to vie with them in their growth and pro ductiveness. The pa'-ty reached home at 4 o'clock well pleased with a pleasant trip over a magnificent piece of rap idly developing country, to see a very novel and very important enterprise, and all on a day in March whose per fection would rival the best any other country could do iv June. THE THREE-CORNERED RACE. Probabilities That it Will be a Great Event. In keeping with liis promise to the public, the sporting contributor of tlie Herald visited the race track yester day in company with Messrs. T. J. Phillips and Geo. H. Clarksou, the turfmen, and inspected the horses to be ridden by Messrs. Anderson, Pugh and Clark in to-morrow's race. Taken all around they are a fine lot of ani mals, and it may safely be asserted that they are the fastest string of horses that will have ever competed in a long distance race. Anderson ha' six thoroughbreds to carry him in Thursday's contest, Irish Pat, Cap tain Jcnks and Narvo, bay horses; Elector, a sorrel horse; Lily Duncan, a brown mare, and Lady Ross, a bay mare. Irish Pat and Captain- Jenks are the pick of the basket, but the other four are in the best of form, and taken together they form a fine string. Card Pugh has taken consid erable trouble to obtain the best mounts possible, and out of some ten steeds has determi- ed to use four of the horses ridden by his opponent, Jackson, in their late con test, including the famous little Buck skin and a bay mare aud brown horse from Mr. A. Foster's San Juan Capis trano ranch. Pugh's horses have a useful look about them, which, com bined with his determined riding, will make him a dangerous opponent of the champion. Ben. Clark is as diffi cult to solve as an intricate problem. He will ride Billy Johnson and Mon tana, the well-known blood horses, and has four others at the track whose pedigree could not be learned. They are all thoroughbreds, however, and if looks go for anything will play a prominent part in the race. Whether Clark, who is a novice at long distance racing, will be able to beat old hands at the game, cannot be said, but he has a fine seat, sits his horse easy, and unless much mistaken will be very close to the leader at the finish, if he does not absolutely wiu. There are many opinions as to the result, and the contributor has interviewed nearly every sporting man in the city, and they seem to be evenly divided as to whom they favor. Mr. Geo. H. Clarkson, the Philadelphia turfman, believes in old hands, at the same time pins his faith to Anderson. Mr. H. T. Rodman, the well-known bookmaker agrees with him, whilst Mr. F Rod man thinks that Card Pugh will out ride the champion, and in this he is backed up by Mr. F. S. > hillips, the well-known Cincinnati sport. Mr. D. Sheehan, the Los Angeles horseman, has a fancy that Clark will prove a dangerous customer, and with this opinion many agree, among others the sporting contributor. The track is in very fair condition, and if the weather will only continue fine, an enormoui attendance will no doubt be preseut to witness a great contest. Pools on the result will be sold to morrow evening at 7:80 by Messrs. Schwartz & Co., at their pool-rooms, corner of Requena street, and from the rumors flying about, betting will be fast and heavy, as there are many sports anxious to back their opinions. Information Wanted A few weeks ago an Englishman, by name Henry Brewer, left his fam ily at Riverside and came to this city in search of work at his trade, brick laying and plastering. The last heard of him was that be was taken sick, and since then nothing has been heard of him. His wife and family are in great anguish regarding him, not knowing what his condition may be, and they desire to ask the public for any information or clues which may lead to finding him. Any one knowing anything about him . will confer a great kindness upon the fam ily by reporting to the i. M. 0. A., 212 West Second street. Steamer Departures. The following passengers left yester day on the steamer City of Pueblo, for San Diego: W. J. Long and wife, E. F. Henderson, S. Hyman, J. J. Collins, Rev. A. Olsen, W. H. Uishop, F. Stephenson, P. H. O'Brien and wife. Miss N. R. Brown, J. O. Hedges, O. H. P. Rose, Miss F. Rose, Mrs. B. F. Turner, Miss W. Turner, W. S. Clark, F. W. Young, E, R. Mauzv, Miss M. Johnson, E. Sill, F. W. Cfo mey, Mrs. M. A. Hawes, C. Arbuth not and wife, A. Arbuthnot, M. Kel ler, J. H. Keller. THE INQUEST On the Body of Mr. Nathan R. Vail. STORY OF THE ACCIDENT. The Fruitless Efforts of Those on Shore to Save Him—The Jnry's Verdict. Coroner Meredith held an inquest yesterday, at Redondo Beach, on tho body ot N. R. Vail, whose sad death Btartled tho whole community. The story of the accident was told by the witnesses as follows: W. M. Fowler testified: I reside in San Franciscj and am a wharf and bridge builder. I have known the deceased about two weeks. I am superintendent for the American Bridge and Building Company, and am superintending the building of a wharf at Redondo Iseaeh. The de ceased came here yesterday about 1 o'clock and asked me if I could let him have some men to take him aboard a ship that is lying off the beach. I told him I thought it was too rough, and asked him to come in and have some dinner and we would see after that. I spoke to some of the men and they said it was too rough to go, and I told him I would not send them unless they wanted to go of their own accord. The deceased then said it was necessary that he should go aboard of the ship, and if I could not send him he would go and get the fishermen and have them put him on board of the ship. I then offered to send him by team to the fishermen, and also send a boat to where the fishermen were, as it ia supposed to be smoother where the fishermen are. He tol 1 me it was not necessary to send a boat, because if I could not send him, lie would rely on the fishermen to take him out, as he did not think it was any trouble to put him out at this place. He got into his buggy and started to go to the fishermen. In about one hour he returned and said that the fisher men were all out. He went down to the beach, aud asked me if I was or was not going to send him out to the ship. I told him I would not unless the men were perfectly willing to go out with him of their own accord. He then asked me if it was a money considera tion, aud I told him it was not. He told me he wanted to go to the ship so as to have the Captain bring the ship down between the moorings and in a different place from where it was. I left him for a short time and he after wards came to me and asked again to be taken out the ship. I told him I would ask the men and if any of them would volunteer, well and good. Three of the men agreed to go and we took tho boat down to the beach and made it ready. I saw my men strip themselves, and I went "to the de ceased and tried to have him not go out until the morning and told the men that if they did not consider it safe to give up the attempt. They launched the boat aud when they got outside the third breaker the boat filled. Two of the men swam ashore and the other remained on the bottom of the upturned boat and tried to throw a ropo to the de ceased, but did not succeed. The men righted the beat and made several attempts to get to him, and others tried to swim to Mm from the shore, but without success. I think everything was done that was possib c to save him. Most of the men are accustomed to the sea and to surfing. Every possible effort was made to vive the deceased after he was brought ashore. The deceased told me he was an old sea captain, and that he thought it was hard if I would not accommodate him by send ing him out to the ship. J. C. Burr testified : I reside in San Francisco and am a pile driver and wharf builder. Yesterday afternoon about 3 o'clock I came out of my tent and went down to the beach. I saw several men struggling in the water and a boat capsized. I went to the assistance of the deceased and got chilled and was com polled to swim to the boat. I could have saved the de ceased if 1 had had a surf line. I succeeded in bringing the deceased ashore after I made the third attempt. I think the deceased was dead when I brought him ashore. When I was on the top of the boat 1 heard him call for help only once. We did every thing we could to save the life of the deceased. The surf was running very heavy. While I was trying to save the deceased the under current would carry me away from him and I would get fagged out, so > that I was compelled to go to the beach to rest. When I first saw the deceased in the water he was about four or five hundred feet away from the beach. W. C. Burnett testified: I reside in San Francisco and am a wharf builder. Yesterday afternoon about two o'clock, I and the deceased and two other men started to go to a ship that lays off the beach. After we got into the breakers, they were very rough and filled the boat which sunk and threw us all over-board. The deceased jumped irom the boat at the same time as the rest of us and started toward the beach. The breakers were running very heavy and we had considerable difficulty getting ashore owing to the strong undertow. I and the other two suc ceeded in getting to the shore, and everything that we could do was done to save the daceased. I did not see the deceased when he was finally brought ashore, as I was used up pretty well and had to go to the tent. The boat we tried to go to the ship in. was a flat bottomed skiff. The jury returned a verdict of death from accidental drowning. Distinguished Visiters. C. .Mason Kinne and his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth D'Arcy Kinne, of San Fran cisco, Past National President W. R. C. Auxiliary to tlie Grand Army of the Republic, are spending a few days in this city. They visited Santa Mon ica and the adjacent site for the Sol diers' Home on Monday, and yeater dav Pasadena and its vicinity. To day, at 2 o'clock p. m., Mrs. Kinne is to be tendered a reception at Masonic Hall by the Relief Corps of this city, which will enable hundreds of ladies and gentlemen to grasp the hand of one whose brilliant success at the head of tbe greatest organized charity in the world, won her at the National Convention in St. Louis the name of the "General Grant of the Woman's Relief CM'ps." The Condition* are all i'arorabla For an immense sale of lets lv Studebaker on Friday the nth. Tickets free. Oflice, 76> North Spring street, room 5. Hervey Und I ley. President; Geo. Mason, Secretary 5