The morning call., 1890-09-26
5. PRICE FIVE CENTS.

that the Baltimore had been disappointingly
slow on her recent maiden TRANSATLANTIC
voyage and that the condition OF this crack
cruiser at the end of her trip was far from
satisfactory. When the Baltimore left tn Q
port of New York for Stockholm
on the night of August 23d, she was
supposed TO be on the eve Of very
creditable demonstration Of speed and en-
durance. 1--WE will make the run OF $3.50
miles in twelve days." said one of her off,
GERS. This was repeated by several other
officers and it appeared in dispatches from
Washington, and everybody thought that a
twelve days trip would be made.
A DISAPPOINTMENT.
That 1t would not be made was soon ap-
parent. Twelve days came and went and no
news was received announcing the arrival
Of the ship at Stockholm. A Stockholm
cable OF September 9th gave it out that the
Baltimore is expected here Tomorrow"
But it was not until week later. Friday,
September 10Th, that news of her arrival
was finally sent out. Nineteen days
and fifteen hours had been required
to make the trip, which is equivalent
to speed of 1867 knots per hour, almost the
same snalpS pace made by the Charleston
on her recent trip from Honolulu 10 Port
Townsend. 1t was said by naval officers
who had waited for the ship that her slow
passage was probably due to ice; others
guessed it was fogs. Credulous ones swal-
lowed these excuses, and no more was
thought of the affair until the cruiser made
the run from Galenburg to Stockholm.
A sNAIL's PACE.
This run, it is said, ought to have been
made in thirty hours. Instead, however, it
took three days, and the average speed was
again recorded at a trhe over seven knots.
These figures convinced naval officers gem
orally that something was wrong with the
pet cruiser. The slow rate Of speed
shown on this trip has been a matter
Of surprise ever since the news came OF the
that she would fully come up to the time
claimed for her by Captain Schley, namely,
twelve days, and no reasonable explanation
has been made concerning her failure.
When the Baltimore left the navy-yard her
bunkers were supplied with coal enough to
steam 5000 miles at the rate of sixteen
knots.
WILL BENEFIT THE COAST.
"This," said an officer, Twas enough to
last her not only until she reached Sweden,
but until she had reached her ultimate
destination at Lisbon" For these reasons
rumor seems to have gained currency at
the navy-yard that the cruiser is not
1t is hard to reconcile her seyen-knot
performance. with the twenty knots
claimed by her contractors. 1t is said that
the Baltimore made every effort to make
speed record between New York and Stock
holm, but she failed Notwithstanding the
enormous consumption of coal. OF course
all this is calculated to promote the Pacific
Coast ship-building institutions, which
turns out magnificent war ships as against
the tubs manufactured on the Atlantic side.
Mr.. Scott says lie will get that next con-
tract or know the reason why.
DECISIONS REVERSED.
The Secretary of the Interior has reversed
the pf tho is- of ha
Land-offiee in five cases similar to that of
Samuel r. Childs VS.. the Southern Pacific
Railroad Company, which was lately de-
cided. Applications had been made by
Charles r. Beale, William M. Hatton,
John Pirtle and Edward L. Wallace for
District. Charles r. Beale had also
applied for a homestead entry in the same
district. and their several applications were
rejected by the local officers because said
land was within the primary limits Of
branch line of the Southern Pacific Railway
eral plaintiffs appealed from the decision Of
the local office, claiming that the land for
which they applied was within the
limits of the ranches San Jacinto,
Viejo and Nuevo. The Commissioner
adopted their view and the Southern Pacific
Company appealed to the Secretary. The
land being within the limits of the railroad
grant, and also within the outer boundaries
of the Mexican grants named, but excluded
therefrom by the final survey innres to the
railroad grant. The decision IN The cases is
therefore reversed.
The Central Pacific Railroad Company,
having appealed from the decision OF the
Commissioners Of the General Land Ofico
in rejecting its claim to the south half of lot
of the southwest quarter QractionaD of
section 10, township II north, range east,
Sacramento District, Acting Secretary Of
the IateriOr Chandler affirms his decision.
AUSTRALIAN NAILS.
The following bill was reported favorably
yesterday by the House Committee on Post
Office and Post Road. "The Postmaster
General is authorized to make such conces-
sions respecting the transportation from
made up in the Australian colonies for Great
Britain, either by reducing the charge for
said transportation. or by granting said
transportation free of cost to the colonies,
as may be in his Judgment necessary TO Sc
cure the cooperation of the colonies in con-
tinuiDg after November next the direct mail
service between San Francisco and Auck-
land and sydney, which is now maintained
by reason of subsidy paid jointly BY the
colonies of New Zealand and New South
Wales to the steamship company now per-
forming the service, and which will expire
by limitation in November, 1902
FoRTIFIC ALTON OF SWEET WINES.
The Conference Committee has decided to
retain the House clause OF the Tariff Bill
in relation to the fortification of sweet wine.
Senator Allison said to the California Asso-
ciated Press agent tonight that Senator
Hearst and Representative McKenna
had made strenuous efforts to have
this retained, having appeared before
the members of the Conference Committee
and presented strong arguments in behalf
of California wine-gr0wers. Senator AL
drich said that inasmuch as he had pledged
himself in open session of the Senate, he
could hardly 90 back on his word, and there
fore the committee unanimously agreed to
retain the original clause.
~0NGRING