The Paper
America’s Only Emperor Cont. from Page 6 as one.”
The dogs were so strongly identified with Emperor Norton that they were spoken of as members of his royal entourage. When a new dog catcher unwisely captured Lazarus on June 14, 1862, an angry mob demanded the dog’s immediate release and San Francisco’s city supervisors acquiesced, and ordered – not only his release -- but officially declaring that Lazarus and his best friend Bummer, were above all the city’s anti-stray dog laws and, therefore, could roam the city freely, and without future harassment and incarceration. A MEMORIAL PLAQUE TODAY HONORS BUMMER & LAZARUS.
Today, if you visit the environs of San Francisco, you may visit and view an impressive and beautiful bronze Memorial Plague that honors Bummer & Lazarus, which is prominently and respectfully displayed at Redwood Grove Park, San Francisco, California. EMPEROR NORTON’S RENT, CLEANING BILLS, PAID BY SAN FRANCISCO CITIZENS.
A newly-established residence on Commercial Street, was completely paid by the citizens of San Francisco. Expenses such as having his imperial uniform pressed and ironed at the cleaners were also fully paid. The City of San Francisco also honored and indulged Norton. When city officials noted that his uniform began to look a bit shabby, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors bought him a suitably new Imperial replacement. Norton sent a gracious thank you note and issued a "patent of nobility in perpetuity" upon each supervisor. Norton granted the supervisors the lifelong rank as members of Royal Nobility. AMAZINGLY, NORTON WAS ALLOWED TO EVEN PRINT HIS OWN CURRENCY!
So loved, and so indulged was America’s First Emperor, that he was given sovereign power to actually issue/print his own currency/money in his own name, logo, and emblem, and upon which said money was honored in the establishments that he often chose to frequent. Norton issued his own money in the form of personal banknotes which took the place of hard currency which were accepted by restaurants in San Francisco. These notes came in various denominations from fifty cents to ten dollars and more. The few surviving notes are collector’s items that routinely sell for over $10,000 at auctions today.
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THE OFFICIAL U. S. CENSUS DESIGNATED AND CONFIRMED NORTON AS EMPEROR.
In the official 1870 U. S. Census, Joshua Abraham Norton is listed as male, 52-years-old, residing at 624 Commercial Street, San Francisco, California and his official occupation is listed and recognized as “Emperor.” Norton is also so recognized and referred as such in city records and various official California historical societies today which record: “Supporting and participating in the series of recognized institutions that long have helped to preserve the historical record of Emperor Norton: the California Historical Society, the San Francisco Public Library, various Institutes of Study including the Society of California Pioneers.” (1) CONSTRUCTION OF THE SAN FRANCISCO-OAKLAND BAY BRIDGE.
Emperor Norton’s ostensibly crazy idea of petitioning city officials to plan the construction of a bridge and tunnel crossing the San Francisco Bay and connecting San Francisco with the city of Oakland was profoundly visionary.
According to retrieved archival records, city officials noted: “The self-proclaimed Emperor Norton saw fit to decree three (3) times in 1872 that a suspension bridge be constructed to connect Oakland with San Francisco.”
Amazingly prophetic for its time and era, Norton’s idea would prove to be 64 years in advance of reality: The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge would eventually be envisioned, planned, and completed on November 12, 1936, bringing Emperor Norton’s early vision – once thought to be crazy – into actual reality.
Since that time, there have been two 21st-century campaigns to name all or parts of the Bay Bridge for Emperor Norton. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors (along with support of the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper) will vote this year, 2021, to rename the bridge in honor of Emperor Norton in time for the 150th Anniversary of Emperor Norton’s 1872 Proclamation: Setting out the original design and vision for the bridge.” (2) EMPEROR NORTON’S VISIONARY ECONOMIC PLANS FOR A NEW AVIATION & COMMERCIAL ERA.
According to city and state records, America’s Emperor Norton the First, had repeatedly decreed that the city of San Francisco invest money and financial interests in preparation for an: “Envisioned future whereby ‘Flying Machines’ would eventually dominate the public and commercial enterprise and
America’s Only Emperor Cont. on Page 8
Historically Speaking by Tom Morrow
ing America, General Motors introduced the “Hydra-Matic automatic transmission as optional equipment for the 1940 Oldsmobile, which sold for under $1,500. Minimum wage in 1940 was .30 cents an hour.
In 1939, President Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving to the fourth Thursday in November giving merchants more time to sell goods for Christmas. Inflation; The Cost of Money
Rapid increases in the quantity of money or in the overall money supply have occurred in many different societies throughout history.
Simplest example of explanation: When silver is used as common currency, government collects silver coins, melts them down, mixes them with other metals such as copper or lead and reissues at the same nominal value -- a process known as “debasement.” If you have any pre-1964 silver quarters, hang on to them because each coin today is worth more than $3. Since 1964, silver in quarters is blended with copper, thus decreasing the value – hence, inflation. When Nero became Roman emperor in 54 AD, the denarius contained more than 90 percent silver, but by 270 A.D, hardly any silver was left because of dilution of the silver with other metals. Rome could issue more coins without increasing the amount of silver used to make them. As each coin became less valuable, it took more of them for negotiation. Gold coins in the U.S. are no longer minted for common usage, but those in existence remain valuable as collectables. Bringing things to modern times, inflation continues to lurk very much in the forefront of world currencies. When governments increase the money supply, the relative value of each coin or dollar is lowered. As the relative value of the coins becomes lower, consumers need to spend more money for the same goods and services. Prices increase as the value of each coin or dollar is reduced.
Governments spend a great deal of money on various infrastructures, often fighting costly wars. They react by printing more money, which leads to inflation. In reality, the U.S. is slowly paying down the tremendous debt incurred from World War II. The Korean conflict, Vietnam, and various Mid-East conflicts will have to wait their turn – if ever.
Here are some examples of inflation eating into today’s everyday life.
One billion dollars in 1930 has increased in value to more than $12 billion in today’s money. In 1940, a fiveroom bungalow here in California cost in the neighborhood of $3,700. Today, the very same house (if it’s still standing), can sell in the neighborhood of $370,000. It’s not necessarily the value of the structure that’s increased, but the land it sits on. As humorist Will Rogers once advised: “Buy land … they don’t make it anymore.” In 1940, a 10-pound bag of potatoes was .18 cents; sugar was .49 cents for 10-pounds. A beef chuck roast was .20 cents a pound. Heinz pork and beans sold at .13 cents for a 25-oz can. To add to the modernization of a grow-
In 1939, the most famous person in America was Yankee first baseman Lou Gehrig, who retired declaring himself “the luckiest man on the face of the earth.” A Few Chuckles from Collected “Colemanisms.”
Every city that has a major league baseball team has or had a favorite play-by-play radio/TV announcer. If you’re a Dodger fan, no one can replace Vin Scully. Here in San Diego the Padres will always remember and cherish Jerry Coleman for his unintended, but hilarious on-air malaprops. Jerry is a Baseball Hall of Famer who earned his spurs as a Yankee secondbaseman during the ‘40s and ‘50s.
Like Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox, Jerry took time out during World War II to serve as a Marine Corps pilot, then returned to Yankee Stadium. For the last three decades of his life he led the Padres’ broadcast team, serving one year as the team’s field manager. I once asked Jerry to comment on his legendary game descriptions. He hated to hear anyone mentioning them. Still, there were those of us who hung on every radio or TV broadcast, waiting to the next “Colemanism” to break the airwaves. Here are a few Coleman classics:
“One thing about umpires … they rarely win except they’re always right.” “Here comes (pitcher) Rollie Fingers with his icy nerves of steel.” “He hit that one on the second-base side of second base.” “You can’t win when they beat you.” “Ozzie (Smith) with his beautiful manipulated body, gets it!” “Thomas almost caused some magic on that great try – black magic at that.” “He struck him out for strike two!” To broadcast partner Dave Campbell: “The dice is cast on this one, David.” “Here’s the pitch … it’s right in there for a ball.” “There goes Kennedy, off at the crack of the ball.” My favorite: “And there goes (Dave) Winfield sliding into second for a stand-up double.” More “Colemanisms” to come in future columns.
Jerry Coleman