The Wasp — 1878 — page 121: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page from *The Wasp* (September 21, 1878) is primarily editorial and subscription information rather than a cartoon page. The masthead shows the magazine's logo. The main article, "Our Greatness in Crookedness," critiques two San Francisco water corporations—the Spring Valley Water Company and San Francisco Gas Company—for abusing their government-granted monopoly privileges. The piece argues these corporations exploit their protected status to overcharge the public while corrupting officials and legislators. A secondary article, "The Federal Ring," discusses the Placerville libel suit involving Sargent, Page & Co., and what appears to be political corruption within California's Republican establishment, referencing figures like "Billy" Carr and "Friend Pinney." The satire targets corporate monopolies and government corruption broadly rather than specific individuals.