The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1889-08-13
TELEGRAPHIC.
Specials to The AstOrian.
The Tacoma Tournament Next Month,
10 Be Under The Control of The N. W.
Firemen'S Association.

PORTLAND, Or. Aug. 12.-The di-
rectors of the Northwestern Firemen's
association had a meeting this after
noon at the st. Charles hotel, where
they were in consultation with chief
engineer Rainey of the Tacoma fire
department. Messrs. F. l.. Parker
and B. S. Worsley represented As
toria.
All necessary preliminaries were
promptly arranged, and it was de-
cided that the tournament to be held
at Tacoma would. be under the entire
control of the Northwestern Firemen's
association. The dates are the 10Th,
18th, 18th and 18th ult. 1t was also
decided that the annual convention
would be held at the same time. The
sum of $4,000 was decided to be
awarded in prizes: there will be a
capital prize of one thousand dollars.
THE GULF STREAM.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. PA local
paper prints an interview with W. 5.
Howard, who was three years on the
United coast survey steamer Blake,
commanded by Lieutenant Pilsbury.
Howard says that for two years the
gulf stream was observed and traced,
and it was definitely ascertained to
originate alta place between FOwey
Rocks, ledge In the Atlantic, off the
south extremity of Florida, and Gun
Key, on the Bahama coast. The
steamer was anchored at this point
and the study of the gulf stream was
begun there. The stream was found
to vary daily in velocity, the difference
being equal to 215 knots per hour.
The current was affected by the moon,
and the greatest strength of the cur
rent was day or two after the de-
clination of the moon. The steamer
anchored at twenty-six stations
to observe the gulf stream and up
ward of fifteen hundred observations
were taken. With other apparatus
two meters were used at once by
which the velocity of the surface and
the sub-surface was simultaneously
noted. The surface current runs with
much greater velocity than the sub
surface. The true axis or beginning
of the stream is eleven and a half
miles east of Fowey Rocks Light
house. Here the strongest surface
was 81 knots per hour and the weak
est 81, an average of SO knots. At
the axis there is a depth of 4S9 faith
oms of water. The soundings brought
to light no explanation of the myster-
ious origin of the stream. The de-
ductions from observations are that
the trade winds and the Mississippi
river may both be dismissed as prob
able creators of the current, and that
the velocity of the current is pos
lively controlled by the declination of
the moon.
ESTABLISHING THE LINE.
TORONTO, Ont, Aug. 12.-The geo.
detic survey party sent out by the
United States government to definite
ly determine and establish the Al
askan boundary is now at work. They
stopped at Oonalaska, where sound.
ings were made and the variations
of the magnetic needle ascertained
Surveyors with stores disembarked at
the mouth of the Yukon river and pro-
ceeded on their way.
The interior department is thinking
of sending an expedition to assist the
United States party, but nothing has
yet been definitely settled upon.
Ii matters are satisfactorily ar.
ranged the party will start next
month, and proceeding by boat up the
Yukon, winter there and continue
operations next year.