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2 consumers, were privately advised as to how they might get in on the ground floor. Mr. McNear of San Francisco, a very successful operator in commissions and margins, had 100,000 sacks set aside for him without presenting at the time either affidavit or deposit. In fact, he did not have an affidavit covering ap plication for so much as a single sack, but, like Mr. Dlggs, he agreed to send out into the country to procure them. This deal, admittedly made as the re sult of a private conversation between Mr. McNear and Warden Hale, left only 150,000 surplus sacks to be dispos ed of at the prison clearing house. Evi dently Mr. McNear, like others, was keeping a pretty close tab on the San Quentin stock, and figuring on the rise to $.') 40 which the board made on March 20, when they had nothing but th-- sale of the output to consider. With Mr. R. Lichtenberg, the Ran Francisco dealer, similar transactions in larger quantities are recorded. He speaks plainly in his communications of "placing" the San Quentin sacks. Mr. Lichtenberg deals in big numbers— 60,000 and 100,000 at a turn. With ref erence to the sack situation he has a private consultation with Mr. Ellis. He is kepi closely posted on the condi tion of the San Quentin supply, and insists on having all the "culls" or so called Imperfect sacks saved for him. His telegraphic orders are regularly booked, affidavit and deposit to follow. The Warden even goes to the length of settins; 50,000 sa<>ks aside for him in th<- State warehouse at $4 75 future de li v.-ry. after the 2.000,000 surplus sacks covered by the board resolutions had been disposed of. Notice to this effect was served on Mr. Lichtenberg Febru ary 19— the day before the board met and raised the price to $5. Mr. Fitzgerald, present chairman of the Board of State Prison Directors, and Mr. De Pue, the recently retired member, visited The Call office last evening. Both gentlemen asserted that they were unaware of any violation of the Ostrom law, and that the affairs of the Jute mill have been managed to th^> very best interest of the State. While mistakes may have been made, from a business point of view, Mr. De Pue stated that the board had acted ever with the object in view of making the mill successful and self-support ing; that any intimations of collusion with middlemen or violation of the law, to the injury of the farmer, was an out rage if the truth, and that their trans actions are preserved in the records, where any one who chooses may read them. When his attention was called to the fact that goods had been sold in violation of Sec. 3 of the law he ad mitted having labored under a misun derstanding as to that clause, and th' 'light it related merely to jute bags. Mr. De Pue explained the difficulties experienced by the board in selling Facks direct to farmers when the latter were without the means with which to make the legal payments, and thought any business man would approve the course pursued in disposing of the sur plus product to replenish the revolv ing fund. Both gentlemen were indignant at the intimation of wrongdoing expressed by Senator Optrom, and resented It as wholly undeserve.d and unjust. CONNIVANCE WITH THE BIG MIDDLEMEN. An Insight Into the Manipu lation of the Surplus. * Sack Sale. It was impossible for the prison di rectors to favor the manipulators of the ' grain-bag business without leaving a few kangaroo tracks in the sand. In an investigation of the letter records of San Quentin enough proof may be ' obtained to substantiate the charges | made by The Call that the Ostrom law •was juggled desperately in the. interest i of middlemen purchasers and specu lators. Take for example the brief corre spondence between Warden Hale and G. W. McNear of San Francisco, which establishes the fact that 100,000 sacks were reserved at 15 per hundred, as the j result of a prior conversation, and i without affidavit or deposit. This, In j despite of the provision of section 3 i of the Ostrom act, which says "all or- j ders for jute goods must be accompa nied by an affidavit setting forth that the amount of goods contained in the order are for individual and personal use," and in section 2, "that 10 per cent of the purchase price shall accompany each order. Mr. McNear's informal and illegal application was as follows: . March 6. 1897. Mr. O. W. McNear, San Francisco, Cal.— Pear Sir: Referring to our conversation by telephone to-day I now beg to confirm, that we have reserved for* you 100,000 grain bags at 5 cents, pending arrival of deposit and properly executed orders with affidavit, an re quired by law, which you Bay you will furnlci In a few days. Our sales have been limited since February 20 to quantities not exceeding 10,000 bags for any one fanner. After book ing your order, we have now only about 150, 000 baps left for sale, out of our stock on hand, and when they are sold further action by the directors will be necessary to deter mine how and at what price to dispose of the bags we shall manufacture from now on. I enclose a number of blank orders. Tours truly. W. E. HALE. Warden. Thus with the surplus almost ex hausted, and without affidavit or de posit, 100,000 were set aside as Bold for future delivery, when the price had been raised by the directors from $5 to $5 40. Mr. McNear made due acknowl edgment of the favor as follows: San Francisco, March 8, 1897. Mr. W. E. Hale, Warden . California State Prison. Ran Quentin, Cal.— Dear Sir: I am In receipt of your letter of the 6th lnst.. advis ing that you have reserved 100,000 grain bags for 'us at 5 cents. We have sent affidavits Into the country to be signed by our customers, and as soon as we leceive them will forward them to you, together with the necessary de posit. Thanking you, I remain, yours very truly, O. W. McNEAR. Mr. R. Lichtenberg of San Francisco does a thriving business with the board, both in the matter of selling raw Jute and in buying bags as a middleman. An idea of the extent of his transactions tn the latter respect, and the profit he reaped, may be gathered from the sub- , joined correspondence copied from the : files: San Francisco, Feb. 2, 1897. Hon. W. E. Hale. Warden State Prison, San Quentln. — Pear Sir: Under the usual condi tions nnd 10 per cent deposit, payable at once I can probably place here 250,000 grain bags, viz: 50.000 with Mr. Williams (Williams eB-tate),e - B tate), 2'*), 000 with Messrs. S. Koshland & Co., firet party signing affidavit now, the latter binding themselves to deliver farmer?' affida vits lutpr or>. I>olivery to be taken any time between now and June next. 8. Koshland & Co. may wait scm» bags aa early as this month. Kindly advise me what I am author ized to do In this mattor. Our market is very firm; the rain of the la*t days has been all over the State; so. especially the south has been benefited and prospects for large crops have never been bet ter. T>>«re la no news from Calcutt* except that Jute Is again a little liiwer. Very truly yours, R. LICHTENBERG. February 3, 1997. Mr. R. Lichtenberg. Ban Francisco. Cal.— Dear Sir: Your favor of the 2d lnst. to hand. I suppose you know that the directors fixed the price of our bags yesterday at 4.76 cents. Of course we would be pleased to book Mr. Williams' order for 50,000 bags now, and I en clcse blanks for the purpose. I do not know. howevw, about Koshland's order and do not think it poll< y, nor do I think the directors would approve of booking orders for anyone, unless the affidavits are furnished at the time of so booking the order. We might do so later on. during the harvest season In some ca.«..-r where bags are wanted in a hurry, but Just now it would not look well. However, Mr. Ellis desires you to meet him to-morrow (Thursday) at the bank at 11:30 and perhaps you had better talk with him about It. Mr. Hale is gone south for a while. Yours truly. C. J. WALDEN. SAX FRANCISCO, Feb. 4, 1597. J. V. Ellis. Esq., Kan Quentin. Cal.— Dear Sir: Referring to our to-day's conversation, I beg to inform you that I have placed with Mr. B. F. Porter of Los Angeles 50.000 San Quentin grain bags at 44* cents, and I will send affi davit and check for lv per cent as deposit to morrow or Saturday. 1 will see Judge Wil liams to-morrow, also my party for the 100.000 spot at 4.65 cents, subject to confirmation. Very truly yours, H. LICHTENBERG. SAN FRANCISCO. Feb. 3, 1597. Hon. W« E. Hale, Warden State Prison, San Quentin— Dear Sir: Referring to my yester day's letter I beg to hand you inclosed Mr. H. F. Porter's affidavit and check for $237 50, be ing deposit on SO.OOO grain bags at 4\ cents. Please send me receipt and confirmation of sale and oblige yours truly, R. LICHTENBERG. Feb. 6, UK. Mr. R. Lichtenberg, San Francisco, Cal. — I 'ear Sir: I beg to acknowledge receipt of your favor of the 6th inst. with orders of Mr. K. I". Porter for &0.000 grain bags and check for , $237 50 to cover deposit on same. The order has been duly booked, and as requested I hand you Inclosed bill for balance due when baps are ordered forward and receipt for the de posit. Yours truly, W. E. HALE, Warden. (M.) SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 11. 1597. Hon. W. E. Hale. Warden State Prison, San ; Quentin, Cal.— Dear Sir: I have lectured on the 1 San Quentin grain bags in preference to Cal cuttas all day and with good result. I have placed 270, 00u at 4% cents, conditions as re quired by law. and I am treating now for 130, 000 more. Particulars, checks and affidavits I bring over personally on Saturday. Please ship at once, either by steamer Caroline or by rail, 80,' TOO at 4*t cents, care of s. Koshland & Co, ; check and affidavit will follow to-morrow. , Telegraph me after receipt whether the bags ■will be shipped by steamer or rail and whether , S. Koshland & Co. shall make out check for |XI in your or Mr. J. V. Ellis" name. Very truly yours, R. LICHTENBERG. PAS' FRANCISCO. Feb. 15. MM. Dear Mr. Wal.len: Please find Inclosed let ter and statement In regard to grain bas's I carried these papers back by mistake on Sat urday. Kindly keep me posted about number of l>;i»rs sold and keep all Imperfect bags (or me. Yours truly, R. LICHTENBERG. PAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 17. 1597. Hon. W. E. Hale, Warden State Prison, San Quentin, Cal.— Dear Sir: I have placed to-day 25.000 San Quentin with three parties at 4\ cents and I am working at present for 50,000 mnre; checks and affidavits to-morrow. Please Inform me how many bags are open for »al*> now out of the last million. Our market is very firm, and tt is reported to-day that Bal four, Guthrie tk Co. are getting 5 cents for June-July. Very truly yours, R. LICHTENBERG. SAX FRANCISCO, Feb. 1«. IS!>7. Hon. W, K. Hal<\ Warden. State Prison, Pan Quentin. Cal.— Dear Sir: Confirming my yes terday's letter, I beg: to ask you to book the following sales at 4% cents aa per affidavits enclosed, viz.: George E. Williams. RO.OOO. check 10 per cent. $23 75; Thomas E. Williams Jr.. 10. ono, che.k 10 per cent, $47 50: Frank S. Johnson, check 10 per cent, $47 60; Jac I>>vt Sr.. 50.000, che^k 10 per cent, $237 50; for whkh you will please send me bills as uoual. I further beg to state that owing to tele graph just received I have, placed 100.000 to different Lob Angeles farmers from whom I will have checks and proper affidavit* to morrow, and by that time I think to place 2-'.W» more, making a total of 500.000. Please state how many will be left for sale after de- ducting this guantlty. Grain bags same as reported yesterday. Very truly yours, R. LIOHTENBERG. BAN FRANCISCO. Feb. 19. 1597. Hon. W. E. Hale, Warden, State Prison, San i Quentin — Dear Sir: Sine* my respects of yes- • terday I have received Mr. Walden's yester- i day's telegraph and two letters of same date, ; contents of which have been noted. Affidavits and checks for l<V>,ooo sold to differ- : ent Los Angeles farmers, as stated yesterday. are not expected to arrive here before this ' evening, and will be forwarded as soon as i received. I furthermore beg to hand you enclosed affi davit for 6000 grain bags placed in Pan Luis : Oblspo to George McDaniel (February 16) and check for $237 50, Bank of California, covering Om 10 per cent deposit. Trusting that this sale j will b« accepted, I am very truly yours, R. LICHTENBERG. SAN FRANCISCO. Feb. 19. M 7. Mr. R. Llchtenberg. San Francisco. Cal. — Dear 81r: I beg to acknowledge receipt of your ! favor of even date, with order of Mr. George McDaniel for BMM bags and check for $237 M to cover deposit on same. Bill for same show- Ing balance due, please find enclosed. I have booked this order, although it exceeds the 2,000,000 limit, and have wired to the Board of Directors, who meet at Folsom to-morrow, for Instructions as to the 100,000 you placed In Los Angeles. The limit being reached, all orders at 4% cents will be refused hereafter until we hear from the directors. Yours truly, W. E. HALE, Warden. PAN FRANCISCO. Feb. 20. 1597. Hon. W. K. Hale, Warden. State Prison, Ban Quentin— Dear Sir: Confirming my yesterday's letter I beg to hand you enclosed check for $475, London, Paris and American Bank, to cover deposit on 100,000 grain bags at 4\ cents, placed in Los Angeles as per my letter of the ISth lnst.. and the affidavit herewith. Very truly yours, R- LICHTENBERO. SENATOR DOTY TALKS TO THE PRISON BOARD. He Says They Are Violat ing the Ostrom Law and Defeating Its Ends. ELK GROVE, Jan. 14.— The stand taken by The Call on the side of the farmers of the State and against the manipulation carried on by the Prison Board has become a subject of general discussion throughout Sacramento County. Senator Gillls Doty, who is recognized as the most dauntless cham pion the farmefs of California have ever had in the State Legislature, in speaking of the expose made by The Call, said to The Call correspondent to-day: "In general with the farmers of the State I have always felt that the true purposes and design of the Ostrom bill have been defeated. The only motive which lay at the bottom of that act of 1893 consisted in a desire to benefit the farmers of the State and thereby, in a measure, atone for the employment of convict labor in the manufacture of grain bags. But wherein have the farmers profited from It? "If the recent publications of The rail be true, I am sure Instead of there being a profit or advantage to the farmers, there has been a distinct loss inflicted on them, besides a very serious disadvantage. I have not given the matter much thought since Robert T. Devlin, the Prison Director, ran for Su perior Judge in this county some few years ago. I remember then that his record on the Jute bag proposition was very thoroughly discussed among the farmers, and, if their vote on his can didacy Is any Indication, I am sure the Sacramento farmers were very emphat ic in condemning the course of the Prison Board. "The purpose of the Ostrom law was THE SAX FRAXCISCO CALL, SATURDAY, JANUABY 15, 1898. to restrict speculation in one of the principal commodities used by the farmer. The low price of his grain, coupled with his very small margin for profit, led the Legislature to believe that as long as the convicts had to do something it would be well to effect their employment by directly benefiting the farmer. "Now. when by one means and an other, the directors ran the price up to the point it reached last year, they are certainly violating the law and defeat ing the purpose of the measure. I sup pose when their side is heard they will be able to prove that they were acting in accord with strict commercial prac tices; but while that may be true they made profit at the expense of the farm er, and the Legislature never intended that they should manufacture bags for the purpose of speculation. They should never have permitted such a surplus of stock to have accumulated. "If their price governs the market I do not see why they found it necessary to unload thousands upon thousands of sacks at a price very much lower than the farmer was compelled to pay later on, when it became necessary for him to buy. I do not know where this 518,000 profit which The Tall speaks of went, but you may depend upon it no small grain producer in the State of California received a cent of it. "Now I suppose the claim will be made that the cost of production in San Quentin necessitates this high price charged by the board. My rem edy for this would be to establish the jute plant at Folsom, where they have power to throw away, and where they could manufacture jute bags at a greatly reduced rate. In that event even I presume some way would be found to benefit these whom the law never intended to benefit. "As to the practice spoken of in The Call on the part of merchants who ob tain control of a large stock of grain baps through affidavits made by in different, ignorant or unscrupulous men, I am proud to say that I have never heard of such a violation of the law in my locality. At the same time I know that the fueling of the farmers in this section is wry strong against the practices of the Prison Hoard, and while before The Call's expose we had no authentic information on the man ipulations carried on we have all felt that something was radically wrong, and we sincerely hope that The Call may bring the relief the people desire. "I am not speaking from any peraon al experience, and ran only say per sonally that. If the affair should come up for solution at the next session of the Legislature, I shall take hold of it as I do of all other matters, and try to protect the farmers of the State from any further disadvantage by so amending the law as to remove temp tation and opportunity from those who have failed to carry out the spirit and intent of the act as it now stands." MR. WILKINS DEFENDS THE PRISON BOARD. He Disclaims Any Knowl edge of the Operations of Middlemen. RAX RAFAEL, Jan. 14— James H. Wilkins. one of the members <>f the Board of State Prison Director*, was seen to-day in regard to the jute bag trouble. Said he: "I took my office as a member of the board in April. 1^96, and at that time we had a large supply of bags on hand, but though the season was advancing we were getting no orders for them. We sent out circulars and posters broadcast, but they failed to have the slightest effect. We th»-n reaorted to an expedient never before attempted. Four drummers were sent throughout the State, one in the Northern Sacra mento Valley, one about Stockton, one about Tulare and Bakersfield ond one In the Salinas and Santa Clara Val leys. "They sold, all told, as nearly as I can say about 1,000,000 bags, and I think it is safe to say that they inter viewed one-half to two-thirds of the farmers who raised wheat in commer cial quantities in the State of Califor nia. Many of the farmers could not take the bags, as they were unable to raise the necessary 10 per cent cash payment, and in a number of Instances the middlemen came to their rescue by putting up the amount. "Well, we reached the end of the fis cal year 1896, barely managing to get through and keep things on a level keel. We couldn't sell the bags. All the working capital was tied up in the bags — about HSO.OOO. "It took about $6000 a month to run the jute mill, and this sum must be realized from sales of sacks, for the general appropriation was only suffi cient to pay the salaries and subsist ence charges. The appropriation for that year was $147,000, but we could only draw one-twelfth of that amount a month, or a little over J12.000, which barely paid the salaries and the sub sistence charges. We had no money for the running of the Jute mill, and the Board of Examiners allowed us to overdraw the one-twenty-fourth act, we overdrawing a little over $5000 a month for several months in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1897. "Shortly after we relieved the situ ation, securing orders to manufacture 1,600,000 sugar bags and received cash for them. This eased up the state of affairs existing, yet we were away short on the one-twenty-fourth act. However, we had relieved the embar rassing situation. Otherwise the mill must have closed shortly after the fis cal year began. "On the close of the 1896 calendar year we almopt determined to close down the Jute mill, for the sugar bag business was exhausted and we couldn't see our way clear Co make both ends meet, yet we determined to run along In the hopes that something would turn up, and it did. In January, 1897, the boom began, and it purely arose over the scare among the farm ers about the McKinley bill. A com mittee had formulated a tariff bill and the tariff on bags was run up to 2% cents, and this meant that the price of bags would reach at least 6 cents. There was a rush to get the San Quen tin bags, as there were no Calcutta bags on the market at all. "Inquiries for our bags came in thick and fast and we fixed the price at $4 75. Of course we were anxious to straight en out our affairs, and we desired to put the jute mill again on a business basis. "We directed the sale of a milii. bags, as we had the right to do, a: regarded the sale aa a perfect godsen relieving us, as it did, from a m«. embarrassing position. "I never heard of Diggs before. Very THE MEETING OF THE WHISKERS. President Dole Welcomed to Our Shores by One Whose Hirsute Claims to Official Preferment Are as Conspicuous as His Own. ■000 after the members of the board would know the men applying for the li.iL-s and there would be no question about supplying them. We are not supposed to carry on a detective bu reau. We deal with three and four thousand customers, and to investi gate every affidavit would require the services of a detective bureau larger than any on earth. "I would not have sanctioned the sale Of bags in large quantities had it not been necessary for us to relieve the pressing situation. Our affairs were in a terrible condition, and in common with other directors I was very unwill ing to go before the public with a rec ord of a heavy deficiency, which most people woulJ have ascribed to incom petency or worse. But the sale of the bags carried us over handsomely, and I think any business man would have done the same under like conditions. "I didn't understand that the mid dlemen were buying the sacks. I haven't seen an affidavit that didn't comply with the law. There may have been cases of rien in mercantile pur suits applying for sacks, but as we knew that they used them for farms of their own \v» supplied their demands. "I- believ-' that now the situation is relieved and the affairs of the jute mill are on a satisfactory basis, that the Oatrom it t wfll be complied with in the strictest sense of the law. "The orders for sacks for this year's crop will Roon come in; at the next meeting orders will be received, I be lieve, and we will supply them. If ever the law has been violated except by persons presenting false affidavits I do not know of it personally." REPORTS FROM THE FARMING COMMUNITIES. Small Wheat-Raisers Fail to Derive Benefit From the Ostrom Act. WILLIAMS. Cal., Jan. 14.— The bank, here is owned by the Stovall Wilcoxson Company. \sho farm nearly 10,000 acres, ' and they buy San Quentin bags through members of the corporation for their own use, consuming annually from 30.000 to 60,000 sacks. Last year they paid $4 75. They do not sell any. D. Levy is the only dealer in this vicinity who sells bags. L. G. Manor, another large farmer, last year purchased 34,000 bags, buy ing from the Calcutta combination at $5 10, saving above the cost of prison Hacks, as then quoted, laid down at Williams, the sum of $277. Had he pur NEW TO-DAY. A Good Medicine This is the verdict of the people in regard to Hood's Sarsaparilla. Wher- ever it is given a fair trial it demon- strates its absolute intrinsic merit. It makes friends easy because it makes people well. » As its sales are rapidly Increasing, its volume of praise grows greater day by day. It is now generally recog- nized as America's Greatest Medicine. Its use is prescribed by physicians, druggists, and even the great influen- tial newspapers advise correspondents suffering from impure blood to "take Hood's Sarsaparilla." It has cured the worst cases of scrof- ula, ealt rheum, sores, ulcers, boils, etc., simply and solely because it thoroughly purifies the blood. It cures catarrh and the pains and aches of rheumatism, neuralgia, mala- ria, because it neutralizes acidity, ex- Hood's Sarsaparilla chased earlier in the season he could have done much better. Mr. Manor argues that the prison di rectors forced the prison bags on the market early in the season, and later raised the price to a p<»fhi above that asked for Calcutta bags. PETALUMA, Jan. 14.— Owing to the fa< t that Petaluma and vicinity abound principally in poultry and dairy farms the farmers are not greatly inconven ienced in the purchase of their grain sacks. The fact of the requirements of the Board of Directors at San Quen tin of payment in advance and the usual red tape deters the mills or small farmers from patronizing prison-made sacks. It is estimated that not more than 20,000 sacks are purchased here in a year, the farmers using their old bags as long as possible. The Golden Eagle Mining Company state that they have never handled any of the San Quentin bags. In the first place the law pro hibits any but actual consumers pur chasing bags from the prison, and sec ondly, firms here have been able so far to purchase the Calcutta bags with less difficulty and sell them in this market as low as llwc of San Quentin make were quoted. The difference in quality la but little, and as long as Calcuttas answer the farmers' purpose they will not pay more for the San Quentin convict-made sacks; especially as in several notable instances they have had cause to com plain of unfair treatment, where they should only have received the fair deal ing they expected. HOLLTSTEU. Jan. 14.— San Quentin sacks are used exclusively in this coun ty. The large farmers deal direct with the prison. The small farmers are fur nished the sacks at the prison price, . phis cost of freight. The farmers here ! have no complaint concerning middle ' men, but naturally suffer from the flue ! tuation in prices of the San Quentin i product. VISALIA. Jan. 14.— The publications in The Call regarding the jobbery in grain sacks have elicited much interest here, both among dealers and farmers. It seems to be the prevailing opinion that the grain sack business of the State has not greatly redounded to the benefit of the average farmer. A good many San Quentin grain bags have been purchased in Tulare County by the wheat growers, but far more of the Calcutta product have found their way to this part of the valley. There are reasons for this, one is that the San Quentin bags have been slightly smaller than the others. Again, the law required that 10 per cent of the price of the bags accompany the order, and many of the smaller wheat growers es pels the germs of disease, and gives the blood vitality and strength. It relieves dyspepsia, indigestion, bil- iousness, torpid liver and kidneys, by virtue of its qualities as a true stom- ach tonic, appetizer and aid to diges- tion. It cures nervousness, nervous dyspep- sia, that tired feeling, weariness of mind and body, because it feeds the ; nerves, muscles and tissues upon pure j blood, and thus gives them the tone and strength they imperatively need. It prevents fevers, the grip, colds, ■ etc., because It fortifies and strengthens I the system to resist these attacks and i the unfavorable effects of changeable. damp, stormy weather. This is simply what Hood's Sarsa- parilla has done for others, and what, if you are in need, it will do for you. In your necessity give Hood's Sarsaparilla the opportunity to do you good. Fairly tried, you will find it a faithful friend. Is America's Greatest Medicine. Sold by all druggists. $1; •ix for *5. Prepared only by C. I. Hood & Co., Lowell, Mass. pecially have been unable to have that amount on hand at the time they need ed the bags. Hence it has been the rule for the farmers here to depend on a few of th« largest dealers in grain bags for what they wanted in that line, knowing that the dealers would advance the sacks until the grain was sold. I have been assured that not more than one out of ten farmers in this part of the county makes it a custom to or der grain bags from San Quentin. It has been whispered that a large lot of grain bags was secured last summer from the San Quentln mills by a few dealers who expected to do an immense business in that line on account of the nattering prospects for wheat. How they obtained the sacks is not exactly known. It is said that a good many bales are being carried over. Prices of sacks have varied here from as low as 5 cents to as high as 8 or 9 c^nts In the past four years. Most farmers agree that either the law or the management of the State product has not been entirely satisfactory. SONOMA, Jan. 14.— Some of the grain farmers here purchase their supply of sacks from San Francisco commission merchants, while others place their or ders with the home merchants. Owing to the relatively small amount of wheat raised there is no business house which keeps sacks on hand or makes a specialty of them. The price paid by the farmer fo-r the prison-made sack, which is supposed to be 1 cent above cost, is the same as they pay for the imported Calcutta sack. No orders are sent direct to San Quentin Prison, as it was intended they should be when the Ostrom law was passed in 1893, and it appears as though the wholesaler is reaping the benefit instead of the farm er. The business men of Sonoma said t>>-day that the sack business did no-t justify them bothering with it. F. T. Duhring, the largest dealer here, hand led but 2000 sacks last year. Mr. Joseph Tate, who is connected with his father, Mr. F. Tate, on one of the largest ranches in this valley, when speaking about the purchase of sacks, said that there was no difference in the prioe of prison sacks and those im ported from Calcutta, Last year they purchased their supply in San Francis co, and the price for the two makes was the same. By the passage of the Ostrom law it was intended to protect the farmer against the high price of the imported Calcutta goods, and also give the pris oner a chance to earn his living, but when goods, upon which there is a tar iff, and in the manufacture of which labor has to be paid, is offered for sale at the same price as the prison-made article, where the labor is not paid, it is evident that the laws are not carried "My little boy was taken with in- flammatory rheumatism when he was 2 years old. He was in a serious condi- tion. We did not know what it was for all of us to get a good night's rest for many years. Some one had to sit up with him. We tried every means we could think of to effect a cure, but nothing helped him. At one time we thought he could not live from day to day. He had a heart trouble caused by the rheumatism. I had about given up all hope of his recovery, but I thought I would get a bottle of Hood's Sarsa- parilla. Before he had taken one half the contents he began to improve. He kept cm gaining as I continued to give him the medicine, and now he is well and strong and goes to school every day. I owe his life to Hood's Sarsa- parilla." Mrs. P. S. Lockridge. 1328 West Second street, Los Angeles, Cal. N. B. If you decide to take Hood's Sarnaparilla, do not be induced to- buy any substitute. Be sure to get only Hood's. out as intended, and the unanimous voice of the tillers of the soil here de mands an investigation. MARYSVILLE. Jan. 14. —To the charge of harboring unscrupulous mid dlemen or bankers who are in league with the directors of the San Quentin Prison in the violation of the Ostrom act, Marysville is one city that can plead not guilty. This for the reason that the dealers here have nfver taken kindly to nor admired the red tape fea tures of the purchase or jute bags fror.r the prison. They are modest in iheir confession that they never have yield ed to the temptation to make false af fidavit "that the amount of goods in the order were for individual and per sonal use of the applicant." Instead they have been and are now handling the Calcutta sacks, supply ing for the most part the farmers of Yuba and Sutter counties, whom they carry on their books from year to year. One of these merchants said to your correspondent that he knows of scarcely any San Quentin bags having been used by the ranchers hereabouts last season. When the San' Quentin bag war? from an eighth to a quarter cheaper than the Calcutta article a few of the farmers found themselves financially able to purchase the prison bags. But as the prison directors re quire cash down for the goods few farmers in this section neve been in position to deal with them in three sea sons past. Hence the sway of the Cal cutta bag. which is this season quoted lower than the San Quentin article. NAPA, Jan. 14.— During the year 1897 very few prison made sacks were pur chased by our farmers, though in 1894 95-96 the quantity was quite large. A. Hatt, one of the largest grain men here, says: "Tho reason that last season Calcut ta Packs were almost exclusively bought in this county was that they were cheaper than those made at the prison. I think, too, that they were better and stronger, for the prison sacks brought here the year before were miserable quality, breaking often in the seams. "The Ostrom law was' supposed to have been enacted in the Interest of the farmers, to enable them to get at a minimum cost bags made at an In stitution which they help to keep up, but the good obtained from It amounts to near nothing. At least such would seem the case when farmers cannot afford the extortionate prices at the prison and must buy for a trifle less, but still high, of a private corporation. "I don't charge the Prison Directors with corruption. I know nothing of the allegations, and have given the matter no attention, but I do know It does not appear that the jute department of San Quentin Prison is run much in the in terest of the farmers of California. The prices of Calcutta are high yet they are lower than San Quentin. Why Is it?" F. E. Johnston, one of Napa's most prominent attorneys and owner of one of the largest farms in the county, thinks much as does Mr. Hatt. Since the passage of the Ostrom law in 1893 Mr. Johnston has purchased only one season's sacks at the prison. That was In 1894, when he paid 5V4 cents for five thousand sacks. The following year he bought none, but in 1896 preferred Calcuttas. Also in 1897. In 1896 a thousand Calcuttas cost him 4 1-5 and in 1897 two thousand 5 cents each. This was better than he could do at San Quentin. The Call's profrfng of this matter is attracting much atten tion in Napa. WOULD PRINT SCHOOLBOOKS IN THE STATE PENITENTIARY. DES MOINES. la., Jan. 14.— Senator Wilson to-day created a storm by intro ducing a joint resolution providing that all schoolbooks used in public institu tions of the State be hereafter printed and bound at the State penitentiaries. Already members arc being flooded with remonstrances by mail and wire. While most of them are from leaders of or ganized labor, many are from citizens, in dependent of labor influences, who be lieve the adoption of the resolution by a Republican Legislature would Kwe a demoralizing effect on the party at large. NEW TO-DAY. SPECIAL SATURDAY ONLY TELEPHONE SOUTH 292. RI'TTED FRESH CREAMERY. i C/ , DL 11CIV, EXTRA POINT REYES, Squares *3C EGGS, Best Petalama - - . 27<|c Doz. FLOUR, Best Family - - - - $1.10 Sack 1324-1326 Market St. and 134 Sixth St. The Weekly Call. ©/ It Publish^ the Cream of the gj News or the Week and 2 MANY ATTRACTIVE AND <J ORIGINAL FEATURES. °\ IT IS THE BEST WEEKLY ©/ * PAPER ON mfc ~J PACIFIC COAST *J The Best \ / Mining °\ Telegraphic \S News: Thai ©< Service on /\ Is Accurate. ex The Coast / up to date «< ... — c^ Not a Line of it Sensational o/ or Faky, and Not a Line of gj it Dry or Uninteresting. CX Bright, Clean, A Champ of ) Thoughtful. I ruth. 3 " '' ' ' A CALIFORNIA NEWSPAPER J ALL THE TIME. - 2IT ADVOCATES SENT BY D HOME MAIL, $1.50 »< INDUSTRIES A YE4* PENrYRbWP!LIS Gk 2Wr l"" 1 wilh blue nbbon. 'flktYr mMmmm