San Francisco Call, Volume 100, Number 159, 6 November 1906 — SALOONS IN N3XES CANYON CLOSED [ARTICLE]

SALOONS IN NILES CANYON CLOSED

Complaint of Ruffianism Forces Supervisors to Put Stop to Sale of Liquor

OAKLAND. Nov. — Tales of outlawry, drunken rioting, a veritable reign of terror existing In Nlles Canyon, were related to the Board of Supervisors today when the E. B and A. L. Stone Company made a successful fight to have John B. Bernard and Fred Scott, saloonmen, driven out of the canyon.

The Stone Company maintains a large camp there, carrying out extensive contracts in connection with the construction of the Western Pacific Railway Company's road. Egbert Stone testified that much disorder had resulted from the proximity of the saloons to the camp. He said a gang of fifty ruffians had attacked him in his automobile and he only drove off the leaders by liberally swinging a monkey-wrench. Stone complained that the saloons were responsible. He said no liquor was permitted in the camp and that the superintendent had smashed many bottles they had uncovered in their searches. Other witnesses told of disorder around the saloons. Attorneys representing the saloonmen declared that the resorts were no worse than any others. The Supervisors thought the proper ends would be served by transferring the licenses to Niles and permitting Scott and Bernard to operate in the canyon only during the picnic season.